The Punjab and Haryana assemblies on Wednesday unanimously handed separate resolutions in opposition to a transfer by the Himachal Pradesh authorities to impose water cess on hydropower initiatives within the hill state.
The 2 resolutions stated the transfer was unlawful and needs to be withdrawn. It additionally urged the Centre to prevail upon the Himachal Pradesh authorities to withdraw the laws because it was violative of the Inter State Water Disputes Act, 1956.
On March 14, the Congress-led Himachal authorities had promulgated an ordinance to impose water cess on hydropower initiatives for non-consumptive use of water for energy era. The ordinance was final week changed by a duplicate invoice, which was handed by the meeting.
In Punjab, the decision was launched on the final day of the funds session by water assets minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, who referred to as the neighbouring state’s transfer “mindless”.
Hayer additionally questioned the absence of state Congress MLAs from the Home. “They ran away as a result of this decision was developing within the state meeting in opposition to the choice of their authorities in Himachal,” he stated.
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann stated the Himachal Pradesh authorities’s transfer was “illegitimate and irrational”. “We is not going to pay even a single penny for the water flowing by way of our land,” he asserted.
In Haryana, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar moved the decision within the meeting.
“The levy just isn’t solely an infringement of the unique rights of the state over its pure assets, however can even end in extra monetary burden for era of energy ensuing within the increased value of era of electrical energy,” Khattar stated.
State Congress MLAs supported the decision.
In the meantime, Himachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri, at an occasion in Shimla, stated the state is legally competent to levy this cess.