BJP facilitated power company should be ready to face cancelation: CM Sukhu warns in Assembly
The Mega power companies including the public sectors benefited from the former BJP government by waiving off the free powers, royalties, contribution of LADA funds and GST warned by Chief Minister Sukhinder Singh Sukh in the Assembly today that they should be ready to face cancelation if they would not abide by new power policy and failed to meet the new conditions in the state.
Responding to a query on the question related to the Hydel project, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu said that the previous government had signed many MOUs related to the energy sector during the investor meeting. ”’ In this, the interests of Himachal were sold,” CM informed that the way the agreement was signed by the previous governments stated the future generation was not to get anything.
The royalty clause was removed in the MOU signed with the public sector undertaking SJVNL. Taking the names of Sainj, Luhri, and Dhaula Siddh projects, he said that these projects were to be given to the government after 40 years, the previous government had also removed this clause. Indicating towards leader of the opposition in the house Chief Minister said that previous government did not bother to keep the interest of state intake before mending the conditions in favour of big power companies earning a lot of revenues from state projects.
Mr Sukhu who also holds the portfolio of finance and power said that after taking over the charge of the new government they have changed the energy policy and issued notices to the concerned project management to sign a power implementation agreement.
CM said that during the investor meeting amendment was made in the energy policy and the provision of free four percent electricity was made for the first 10 years of the construction of the project, The Provision of eight percent free power to the state for 10 to 25 years and 12 pc free power for 25 to 40 years were waived off by the previous rule.
Chief Minister said that the clause regarding payment of LADA (Local Area Development Fund) and GST was also removed. He said that after taking charge of the government they have changed the relaxation and issued notices to all power sector companies including SJVNL and NTPC. Chief Minister said that the government would ensure that power projects also provide revenues to the hills states and projects should not go without paying tax and levies. Chief Minister said that some mega power undertaking companies moved in the High Court challenging the government action but the court has ordered its officials to sit together and resolve the matter with the government. The government has made it clear that if they do not accept the conditions then we would take over these projects.
The power producers and public sector companies should sign a repower purchase and implementation agreement with the above conditions so that the interest of the people and state revenues could be ensured before surrendering the natural resources of the state to such a firm, he stated in the house.
