Tag : ESMP

Shimla / Dehradun: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday clarified that "none of the provisions of the water Cess Act passed by the state violates the water rights of neighbouring states, adding that, "that Water cess has already been imposed by various state governments like Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir governments. "None of the provisions of this Act violates the water rights of neighbouring states," CM Sukhu said. "I would like to inform the House that this Act in no way violates the provisions of the Inter-State River Dispute Act-1956 or any other MoU and I want to assure all the neighbouring states that this Ordinance will not affect Legitimate Rights," CM Sukhu assured. "On the same lines, the Government of Himachal Pradesh has set up various power generation agencies to increase the revenue of the state. The cess is levied on water used by established hydropower projects and not on water flowing across neighbouring state borders," CM Sukhu informed. CM Sukhu's remarks came after the Government of Punjab and Haryana raised an objection to the Water Cess Act - 2023 brought by the Government of Himachal Pradesh:- "Giving respect to its neighbouring states, Himachal Pradesh wants to say that the Water Cess on Hydro Power Generation Act 2023 implemented by the government in the state does not violate any kind of inter-state treaties, nor does it violate the provisions of the Indus water treaty," CM Sukhu clarified. CM Sukhu added that the assertion by Punjab and Haryana that the Himachal government's decision to impose water cess is against the Inter-State River Disputes Act, 1956 is not logical as it does not affect the water released to neighbouring states. "I also want to bring to notice th ...