Medical device park, royalty issues: CM Sukhu attacks previous BJP state govt

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Shimla, June 19

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday criticised the previous BJP government, accusing it of compromising the interests of the state in decisions related to the Medical Device Park and Kishau Dam project.

Speaking to the media during an inauguration and foundation stone-laying programme at Himachal Pradesh University, Sukhu said the government had opened a computer and Computer-Based Test (CBT) lab at the university, which would help students from Shimla appear for examinations without travelling outside the state.

On the issue of fee hikes at the university, the Chief Minister said the increase after nearly a decade was minimal and added that the government could consider reducing it further. He said he had come from student politics at the university and understood students’ concerns.

Responding to Leader of the Opposition Jairam Thakur’s statements, Sukhu said he no longer takes his remarks seriously. Targeting the former BJP government, he alleged that land worth ₹5,000 crore was given away for ₹1 crore. He claimed that under the Medical Device Park arrangement, Himachal Pradesh received ₹100 crore, and industries were supposed to be provided land at ₹1 per square meter, along with electricity at ₹3 per unit.

The Chief Minister said he could not make such agreements while holding the office of Chief Minister and would not compromise the interests of the people of Himachal Pradesh.

On the issue of royalty from hydropower projects, Sukhu said the state government had made its position clear and had discussed the matter with Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. He said projects completing 40 years would have to provide 20 percent royalty for extension, while projects completing 60 years would have to be handed over to the state government.

He further stated that hydropower projects operating with 12 percent royalty would also need a revision if they had become debt-free.

Speaking about the Kishau Dam project, Sukhu said that incomplete information was being circulated about it. He said the project, located on the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border, would provide water benefits to Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan.

The Chief Minister alleged that the previous BJP government had agreed to bear the cost of electricity generated from the project, but the decision was reversed after the government changed. He said that after detailed discussions, Himachal Pradesh had achieved a major benefit.

According to Sukhu, the state would receive 211 MW of free power from the project and would earn around ₹600 crore after five years.

On the issue of outsourcing recruitment, Sukhu said there was no ban on outsourcing appointments and claimed that the Supreme Court had removed the stay. He said courts should not interfere in government policy matters, though improvements could be made wherever required.