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Himachal Pradesh has moved closer to the implementation of the 422 MW Kishau multipurpose hydro project after the state government reviewed the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) circulated by the Centre. The state has said it supports the project while ensuring its rights remain protected. Under the revised understanding, Himachal is expected to earn around INR 600 crore annually without making any financial investment. The government has also secured water rights in the Yamuna basin and said it successfully revised the earlier draft agreement to safeguard the state's long-term interests.
The Himachal Pradesh government has reviewed the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the proposed 422 MW Kishau multipurpose hydro project, with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu chairing a high-level meeting and issuing necessary directions to the concerned officials.
The Centre has circulated the draft MoU to the partner states for their comments and suggestions before the agreement is formally signed. The MoU is expected to be signed shortly between the Centre and the participating states in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister reiterated that the state government remains committed to implementing the Kishau multipurpose project but said protecting the rights and interests of the people of Himachal Pradesh would remain its highest priority.
He said that a consensus on implementing the project was reached during a recent meeting. Under the agreed framework, Himachal Pradesh is expected to receive nearly INR 600 crore in annual revenue without making any financial investment in the project.
The Chief Minister further stated that the present state government had rejected the earlier draft agreement and was able to secure acceptance of Himachal Pradesh's proposed terms and conditions from all stakeholders before moving ahead with the project.
According to him, the revised arrangement protects the state's long-term interests while enabling the implementation of the project. It also ensures that all partner states receive their respective share of electricity and water. Himachal Pradesh will receive adequate water from the reservoir based on its requirements and has secured rights over 378 million cubic metres of water in the Yamuna basin.
The Kishau multipurpose project, planned on the Yamuna River along the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border, is intended to provide hydropower generation, irrigation support and regulated water supply. The project has remained under discussion for several years because of issues related to cost-sharing, water allocation and benefit distribution among the participating states.
The Chief Minister said the present government has consistently placed the state's interests first and taken decisions aimed at protecting Himachal Pradesh's rights in major inter-state projects.
He also described the agreement on the Kishau multipurpose project as a significant development that secures Himachal Pradesh's rightful share and long-term benefits from a strategically important infrastructure project.
Apart from the Kishau project, the Chief Minister said the state government has intensified efforts to recover Himachal Pradesh's long-pending arrears of 13,066 million units of electricity from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects. He said these dues have remained unresolved for nearly 15 years despite a Supreme Court decree, and the state continues to pursue their implementation.
Source PTI
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