SC ends decades-old power tussle, Himachal to get 11,973 MU from Punjab, Haryana

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday settled a decades-old inter-state dispute over unpaid electricity dues from Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects, directing Punjab and Haryana to provide Himachal Pradesh with 11,973 million units (MU) of electricity over 20 years. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, accepted the Centre's proposal to clear the outstanding dues through an energy-based settlement instead of a cash payment.The settlement follows a 2011 Supreme Court verdict that recognised Himachal Pradesh's entitlement to a 7.19 per cent share in the electricity generated by the Bhakra Nangal and Beas hydroelectric projects. The dues date back to 1966, but Punjab and Haryana had not cleared the state's outstanding share for the period before November 2011.Under the arrangement approved by the top court, Punjab and Haryana will provide the electricity over 20 years.