Dharamsala, Dec 15 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh government will approach the central government to seek an amendment to the affidavit filed by it in the Supreme Court regarding the state’s claim to free power from the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said Tuesday.
“We will contest the central government’s stand. It clearly goes against the state’s claim of 12 percent free power in the BBMB power projects (Bhakra, Pong and Beas Satluj link). The government will move a resolution in the assembly to press the central government to file an amended affidavit in the Supreme Court,” Dhumal told the state assembly.

The central government has filed an affidavit in the apex court as part of ongoing case moved by Himachal Pradesh in 1996, wherein the hill state has claimed its due in the wake of reorganisation of Punjab.

Replying to the debate in the state assembly moved by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members Randhir Sharma and Suresh Bhardwaj, Dhumal said the central government had ignored the interests of state in the wake of reorganisation of Punjab and often taken contradictory stands.

Leader of Opposition Vidya Stokes said that the Congress party would fully support the state’s claim on 12 percent free power in the BBMB projects.