In a determined push to secure long-overdue energy arrears from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects, the Himachal Pradesh Government has announced a renewed legal effort, asserting its claim pending for over 14 years. After securing a landmark judgment in the JSW energy case from the Supreme Court of India, the present government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, is gearing up for yet another critical legal battle. The matter concerning BBMB energy arrears has now been listed before a new bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Vijay Bishnoi, and will be heard on 29 July 2025.
A government spokesperson revealed that Himachal Pradesh has consistently fought for its rightful share of energy from BBMB since the commissioning of the projects. The state has claimed arrears at a fixed rate of 7.19 percent beginning from November 1966 or from the date of commissioning of each subsequent BBMB project. Despite years of legal proceedings and several policy directives, the resolution has remained elusive. With a renewed sense of urgency and commitment, the state government has assembled a distinguished team of legal experts to represent its interests before the Supreme Court. The high-powered team includes senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Parag Tripathi, and J.S. Attri, along with the Advocate General of Himachal Pradesh, Anup Rattan, and Additional Advocate General Vaibhav Shrivastava.
This case is particularly significant for Himachal Pradesh as it involves an extensive backlog of energy dues owed by neighboring states, Punjab and Haryana, from the BBMB projects. The dispute stretches back decades but gained renewed momentum after the historic Supreme Court verdict on 27 September 2011. That ruling had directed the Ministry of Power to initiate the actual delivery of power to Himachal Pradesh at the agreed-upon rate of 7.19 percent beginning 1 November 2011. Subsequently, the Ministry of Power had submitted a comprehensive statement to the Supreme Court detailing the arrears accrued from November 1966 to October 2011. This official calculation confirmed that Himachal Pradesh is entitled to 13,066 million units of power from BBMB projects, to be recovered in a 60:40 ratio from the states of Punjab and Haryana respectively.
However, despite the Supreme Court’s clear directions and the official confirmation of arrears, the matter has faced constant procedural hurdles. The spokesperson noted that there has been a lack of concrete action from the Ministry of Power and the Attorney General for India in establishing a definitive methodology for the payment of these arrears to Himachal Pradesh. This delay has resulted in repeated deferments of hearings over the years, often on technical grounds or due to incomplete submissions.
The government emphasized that the delay is not only an administrative lapse but also a denial of justice and economic entitlement that rightfully belongs to the state. For a hill state like Himachal Pradesh, which relies heavily on its hydroelectric power resources for revenue, the delay in receiving its legitimate share has implications for its developmental planning and public welfare investments.
The state government under Chief Minister Sukhu remains resolute in its approach. According to the spokesperson, the administration will leave no stone unturned in this legal battle and is committed to pursuing every avenue to recover what is due. The current leadership has already demonstrated its capability in winning complex energy litigations, and with this renewed effort, it hopes to secure long-term justice for the people of Himachal Pradesh.
As the state prepares for the Supreme Court hearing, public attention is sharply focused on the outcome, which could set a precedent for federal energy disputes in India. The resolution of this long-pending matter would not only bring financial relief to Himachal Pradesh but would also restore fairness and accountability in inter-state power-sharing agreements, reaffirming the principle that states must be fairly compensated for their natural resources and contributions to national infrastructure.
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