BBMB project: Himachal no longer needs NOC from Punjab, Centre gives exemption
Chandigarh: The Modi government, which is giving Himachal one setback after another on the economic front, has provided some relief. The Centre has waived the NOC condition for drawing water from the Bhakra Dam Management Board (BBMB). However, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has written a letter to the Central Government objecting to this.
But after the exemption of NOC, Himachal will get more water for drinking and irrigation from Bhakra Dam, Beas Sutlej Link and Pong Dam Project.
For this, the Himachal government will not need to take NOC from Punjab. Earlier also, Himachal has been taking water from BBMB by taking NOC. Now this obligation has been abolished.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu said that with the approval to take water from BBMB projects, Himachal would move towards becoming a self-reliant state. This will especially benefit the farmers. He said that the interests of the state were not taken care of in the hydropower projects built in Himachal, while the water and land belonged to Himachal. By exploiting these natural resources, many companies are earning a net profit of thousands of crores of rupees annually.
Himachal is getting a nominal stake in these projects. This is injustice to the state. The Himachal Government is in constant talks with the Central Government to increase the stake and efforts are on to increase the royalty in various projects.