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Himachal CM Sukhu Signs Kishau Dam Pact, Claims Victory
Confirmed
In Short: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu signed a pact on the Kishau dam project, claiming it protects the state's interests.
The agreement, signed on September 15, ended years of differences over the financing and implementation of the Kishau dam project proposed on the Tons river along the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border.
Of the six states that signed the agreement, five are governed by the BJP, while Himachal is the lone Congress-ruled state.
Sukhu has sought to project the agreement as an example of his government negotiating with the Centre and five BJP-ruled states to protect Himachal’s financial and resource interests.
The Congress dispensation in Himachal has been highlighting the agreement through government hoardings carrying large photographs of Sukhu.
Sukhu said, “During the BJP tenure (from 2017 to 2022), the Jairam Thakur government failed to protect the interests of the state. They agreed to spend Rs 800 crore on this project, but when the Congress came to power, we decided that we will not spend a single penny on this project.”
He added, “The project will be built on our land, water which will be used for generating power and to fulfil the needs of other states is also of Himachal. Villages and people who will be displaced when the project is constructed are also of Himachal. Then why should we bear the cost?”
Jairam Thakur, the BJP leader, praised the project, saying, “The ambitious Kishau dam project for Himachal Pradesh is also an example of the capable leadership, foresight and wisdom of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Because of their efforts, the path towards the construction of the Kishau dam has become easier.”
Randhir Sharma, BJP MLA and party spokesperson, countered that Sukhu was “forgetting a main fact.” He noted that when the BJP was in power in Himachal Pradesh, two main beneficiary states of the project — Rajasthan and Delhi — were governed by the Congress and AAP, which had declined to bear the costs.
An official said the change in the financial arrangement could be significant for Himachal, given that the project cost is expected to rise over time.
Sukhu described the agreement as a “milestone” for the state, saying his government has protected the state’s interests by ensuring it would not bear any financial burden for the Rs 15,624-crore project.
The agreement has also acquired political significance in Himachal Pradesh, with Sukhu linking it to his government’s broader argument that Himachal must secure greater financial benefits from projects that use its land and water resources.
What this adds
The agreement marks a significant shift in financial responsibility for the Kishau dam project, potentially benefiting Himachal Pradesh.
What's confirmed
- The agreement, signed on September 15, ended years of differences over the financing and implementation of the Kishau dam project proposed on the Tons river along the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border.
- Of the six states that signed the agreement, five are governed by the BJP, while Himachal is the lone Congress-ruled state.
- Sukhu has sought to project the agreement as an example of his government negotiating with the Centre and five BJP-ruled states to protect Himachal’s financial and resource interests.
- The Congress dispensation in Himachal has been highlighting the agreement through government hoardings carrying large photographs of Sukhu.
- Randhir Sharma, BJP MLA and party spokesperson, countered that Sukhu was “forgetting a main fact.” He noted that when the BJP was in power in Himachal Pradesh, two main beneficiary states of the project — Rajasthan and Delhi — were governed by the Congress and AAP, which had declined to bear the costs.
- An official said the change in the financial arrangement could be significant for Himachal, given that the project cost is expected to rise over time.
- Sukhu described the agreement as a “milestone” for the state, saying his government has protected the state’s interests by ensuring it would not bear any financial burden for the Rs 15,624-crore project.
- The agreement has also acquired political significance in Himachal Pradesh, with Sukhu linking it to his government’s broader argument that Himachal must secure greater financial benefits from projects that use its land and water resources.
What's still developing
- The publicity campaign presents the pact as an achievement of his tenure and an evidence of the state government’s successful negotiations over a major national project.
- The Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project is an under-construction multipurpose water storage and hydroelectric project on the Tons River, a major tributary of the Yamuna.
- Despite the recent consensus, the project may face several challenges: The proposed agreement on the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project represents an important step towards resolving a long-pending inter-state water and infrastructure issue.