HP govt to contest claims of arrears on power share in BBMB

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet today decided to contest the claim for arrears on account of 7.19 per cent share from Bhakra Nangal and Beas Projects (BBMB) in the Supreme Court in the light of an affidavit filed by the Union government in the Apex Court.
The affidavit by the Centre mentions the share of the state at Rs 1,497.39 crore against Rs 4,250 crore calculated by the Himachal government.
The Supreme Court in its order in September 2011, upheld the claim of 7.19 per cent power in all the projects under BBMB on the basis of Punjab Reorganisation Act and directed payment of compensation for denial of the state's legitimate share from November 1,1966.

The Himachal power department later assessed the amount it was due and pegged it at Rs 4,250 crore but the Union government in its affidavit informed the Supreme Court that Punjab and Haryana will have to pay Rs 1,497.39 crore, basing its calculations on the rates paid by the Nangal Fertiliser plant.
However, the state government wants the arrears to be calculated on the basis of the power rates of the Bhadarpur Thermal Power Plant as per which the amount works out to be Rs 2,751.69 crore, including simple interest at the rate of 6 per cent. The amount will increase to Rs 3,309 crore if calculated on the basis of compound interest.

The Cabinet also decided to select about 7,750 ASHA workers under the National Rural health Mission in the Health and Family Welfare Department on monthly honorarium of Rs 850 and raise the income limit for determining the creamy layer amongst the Other Backward Classes from Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per annum.
The Cabinet has decided to enhance old age pension under the social security pension from Rs 400 to Rs 500 from April 1, and the "War Jagir" to Ex-servicemen and their widows from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000.