Himachal Bhavan In Delhi 'On Sale' As Sukhu Govt Fails To Clear Power Firm’s Dues

Shimla: Himachal Presh High Court on Monday issued an order allowing sale of state Bhavan in Delhi after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's government failed to pay electricity dues amounting to approximately Rs 150 crore.

court also ordered Principal Secretary of Electricity Department to conduct a fact-finding probe into this matter, so that officials responsible for negligence could be identified.

decision by court comes after Congress government led by Sukhu in state ignored previous orders by authorities where it was asked to repay Rs 64 crore, which now increased to Rs 150 crore due to a 7 per cent interest.

As per media reports, case relates to 400 MW Seli Hydro Project on Chenab River in Lahaul-Spiti. high court h previously warned Himachal Presh government that failure to pay se due would le to serious consequences. It also asserted that funds involved were from state treasury.

With this latest decision, high court has now allowed company to auction Himachal Bhavan to recover outstanding amount.

Himachal govt files LPA against court’s decision 

Himachal government however filed an LPA against court's decision. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that although he did not re High Court order, " upfront premium is based on a policy under which, when energy policy was me in 2006, I was main architect".

"We h kept a reserve price per megawatt on which companies h bid. re was a decision me by arbitration in matter of upfront premium. Our government went to High Court against arbitration order and government h to deposit Rs 64 crore in arbitration," he ded.

BJP slams Himachal govt

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on Himachal Presh’s Sukhu government for not being able to pay salaries of ir employees and also for imposition of so-called "toilet tax".

BJP national spokesperson Shehz Poonawala while speaking to news agency ANI said that wherever Congress has come to power, it has brought with it "loot and barbai (destruction)".
"y (Himachal government) are busy investigating samosas and situation is such that Himachal Bhawan is now on verge of being sold to pay dues of power companies," he ded.