Shimla: The Supreme Court’s verdict in the long-pending Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) arrears case is expected to strengthen Himachal Pradesh’s economy, with the state likely to receive Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore over the next 20 years, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Saturday.Crediting his govt’s political will and sustained legal efforts for the victory, Sukhu said the state would also secure 11,973 million units of electricity as part of its entitlement.Addressing the media in Shimla, he said the matter had remained pending for nearly 15 years despite an earlier decree in Himachal’s favour, as successive govts failed to file the necessary replies within the stipulated time. After assuming office in 2022, the Congress govt made securing the state’s financial and resource rights a priority and pursued the case before the courts and at the political level, he said.Sukhu said his govt linked progress on the Kishau Dam project agreement with the filing of affidavits by Haryana and the Centre in the Supreme Court supporting Himachal’s claim in the BBMB case. Despite initial hesitation by Punjab, the state did not dilute its position, he added.The govt is also exploring a better arrangement for selling its share of electricity. At Rs 6 per unit, the revenue could be around Rs 500 crore, but a favourable agreement could raise it to nearly Rs 1,000 crore, Sukhu said.He cited the Kishau Dam project, expected to generate around Rs 12,000 crore over five years, as another major economic opportunity.The chief minister also referred to the state’s gains in the Wildflower Hall hotel and JSW hydro power project cases. After a 23-year legal battle, Himachal has started receiving revenue from the hotel. The Supreme Court’s favourable ruling on increasing electricity royalty from 12% to 18% in the JSW-owned Karcham-Wangtoo project is expected to bring around Rs 150 crore annually into the state exchequer.Sukhu called for political unity on issues concerning Himachal’s interests and said the govt aimed to make the state the country’s most prosperous and economically self-reliant by 2032. A roadmap had been prepared to achieve this through better utilisation of natural resources, he added.He also extended Diwali greetings to the people of the state.
