Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil in New Delhi today to discuss key water resource projects concerning Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister strongly advocated for the protection of rights of the state in the Kishau Hydro Electric Project and emphasized the need for a favourable funding pattern.
He said that the financial burden of the Kishau project should be borne entirely either by the Government of India or by the major beneficiary states such as Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister also raised critical issues concerning the Renuka Dam project. He called for due consideration of the Local Area Development Fund and the free power component. He said that while hydro projects are essential for national development, the environmental and social impacts must also be addressed and the affected states should be fairly compensated.
Apart from this the Chief Minister requested the early release of the pending amount under the Jal Jeevan Mission for the state.
Union Minister CR Patil assured the Chief Minister of all possible assistance and cooperation from the central government.
Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Ram Subhag Singh, Resident Commissioner Meera Mohanty and Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar were also present during the meeting.
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