The Himachal Pradesh government has taken a firm stance, declaring it will not bear any financial burden for the proposed Kishau Multipurpose Project. The state presented three non-negotiable conditions to the central government during a crucial high-level meeting in New Delhi.
Three Key Demands Placed Before the Centre
At the Upper Yamuna Board meeting held on December 13, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Himachal Pradesh's representatives laid out their requirements. The meeting was attended by officials from Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi.
The state's demands are clear and significant:
- Full central funding for the entire Kishau project.
- The immediate release of approximately Rs 4,000 crore in long-pending arrears from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
- A final settlement for the decades-old issues concerning oustees displaced by the Pong Dam and other BBMB projects.
Himachal's Stance: Not Opposition, But Principled Conditions
Himachal Pradesh Secretary (Energy) Rakesh Kanwar, who attended the meeting, clarified the state's position. He stated that Himachal is not opposing the project outright but is insisting on these conditions being met first.
Kanwar highlighted a critical imbalance. While states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi would be the primary beneficiaries of the project's water and power, their financial contribution remains ambiguous. In contrast, Himachal Pradesh would suffer the most severe impact, facing substantial displacement of villages and people.
The proposed funding model is a 90:10 formula, where the Centre covers 90% of the cost, and the host states, Himachal and Uttarakhand, share the remaining 10%. This 10% share amounts to a hefty Rs 1,536 crore.
"We stressed that our financial share should also be borne by the Centre," Kanwar said. He added that Uttarakhand's representative echoed this sentiment, seeking similar financial relaxation if granted to Himachal.
Project Scale and Human Cost
The Kishau Multipurpose Project is a massive undertaking. Proposed on the Tons River in Sirmaur district, near the Himachal-Uttarakhand border, it is estimated to cost around Rs 11,500 crore and generate 660 MW of power.
However, this development comes with a steep human and environmental price. A 2020 feasibility study indicates that about 2,950 hectares of land will be submerged.
In Himachal Pradesh alone, eight villages encompassing roughly 1,498 hectares and affecting an estimated 2,092 people will be impacted. Uttarakhand will see nine villages across 1,452 hectares disrupted, displacing around 3,406 people.
The project's memorandum of understanding was signed between Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand back in June 2015, but progress has been stalled by these financial and rehabilitation disputes.
The ball is now in the central government's court. The resolution of Himachal's three demands will be pivotal in determining the future of the Kishau Multipurpose Project, a venture with significant implications for the water and power security of northern India.
