Tribune News Service
Shimla, March 22
Defending its move to impose water cess to generate assets, Himachal Government on Wednesday stated it was properly inside its proper beneath theInter State River Water Disputes Act 1956 to impose the cess on hydel-power era.
Responding to motion by its neighbours, Punjab and Haryana, who moved resolutions of their assemblies at the moment, searching for withdrawal of the water cess, Jal Shakti Minister Mukesh Agnihotri stated as per constitutional provisions, water is a state topic, giving proper to Himachal over its water assets.
“The revenue generated from imposition of water cess on BBMB projects shall be distributed equally amongst all 5 states, together with Himachal, as Bhakra Nangal undertaking is a three way partnership of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, HP, Delhi and Chandigarh,” stated Agnihotri. He additionally clarified the place on the Shanan hydro undertaking, which he stated might be transferred to Himachal from Punjab after March 2024 in accordance with the interval of validity of lease settlement.
He additionally stated the 7.19 per cent share that Himachal was getting from BBMB projects was its legit proper, as per Supreme Court order. “The BBMB projects make the most of the water and land of Himachal,” he acknowledged.
Himachal meeting had handed theHimachal Pradesh Water Cess on Hydropower Generation Bill, 2023 on March 16. The authorities is hoping to generate revenue of Rs 4,000 crore by imposing the cess onon 172 projects with a capability of 10,991 MW.
“There isn’t any bar on imposition of water cess beneath Section 7 of the Act. The cess doesn’t contain any dispute concerning interstate launch of quantum of water as the quantity of water being launched to the 2 states is not going to get affected,” stated Agnihotri.
“We have imposed water cess on the identical analogy because the governments of Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, because the State has the suitable to impose any tax on utilization of water, which is state topic. He additionally stated that the cess has bene imposed for non-consumptive use of water for hydro-power era by projects positioned inside Himachal.”
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