Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO strongly rejected the statement made by Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri about the Shanan Power Project, asserting that the project belongs to the state of Punjab, and the Himachal Pradesh Government has no claim over it.
In a statement, Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO advised Mr. Agnihotri to familiarize himself with the facts regarding the ownership of the Shanan Power Project instead of making baseless claims. He added that such unfounded statements were damaging the strong relationship between the two states.
The Power Minister reminded Minister Harbhajan Agnihotri that after the reorganization of Punjab in 1966, the Government of India issued a notification on May 1, 1967, regarding the allocation of assets and liabilities of the reorganized states. According to section 67(4) of the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966, the assets of the Hydro Power House Joginder Nagar were allotted to the Punjab State Electricity Board, now known as PSPCL, which is still operating in Punjab.
Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO emphasized that the Act passed by Parliament is law and cannot be altered, making it clear that the Shanan Power Project belongs entirely to Punjab.
He further stated that the Government of India, through a letter dated March 22, 1972, had confirmed that the notification regarding the allocation of power stations, including the Shanan project, would not be revised. In 1987, the Government of India once again rejected the Himachal Pradesh Government’s claim to the project, affirming that it rightfully belongs to Punjab.
The Power Minister also addressed Agnihotri’s claim about the lease of the Shanan Power Project, reminding him that after the formation of India, all districts of Himachal were part of Punjab. He called out the fabricated statements made by Mr. Agnihotri, which were misleading the public and were unacceptable.
Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO also recalled that in 2023, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister had acknowledged the expiration of the lease on the Shanan Power Project and wrote to Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, requesting the transfer of the project to Himachal. To resolve the ongoing dispute and protect Punjab’s interests, a petition has already been filed in the Supreme Court, which is currently under review. The Minister urged Mr. Agnihotri to refrain from making further statements on the matter.