New Delhi. The Himachal Pradesh High Court issued an order to attach Himachal Bhavan in Delhi after the Congress-led Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu government failed to pay electricity dues worth nearly Rs 150 crore. Himachal Bhawan is located at Mandi House in the national capital. The court also directed the Principal Secretary of the Electricity Department to conduct an inquiry to identify the officials responsible for the negligence that led to this situation.
The court’s decision comes after the Sukhu government ignored earlier orders to refund Rs 64 million, which has now risen to around Rs 150 million due to interest. Sources said the matter is related to the 400 MW Seli hydroelectric project on Chenab river in Lahaul-Spiti. In the previous proceeding, the government was ordered to return Rs 64 million deposited by the company and 7 per cent interest. The court had earlier warned the government that non-payment of dues would have serious consequences. He also highlighted that the money involved came from the state treasury.
On the news of Himachal Pradesh High Court attaching Himachal Bhawan in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that I have not read the High Court order but the advance premium is based on a policy as per the which when the energy policy was made In 2006, I was the chief architect. We had maintained a reserve price per MW, for which the companies had bid. The advance bonus case was decided through arbitration. He said that our government approached the High Court against the arbitration order and the government had to deposit Rs 64 million in the arbitration. I have taken information about it and we will study this type of requests.
