In a sharp rebuttal to Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri’s recent remarks, Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Thursday firmly asserted that the Shanan Hydel Power Project is the rightful property of the Punjab Government, and Himachal Pradesh has no legal claim over it.
The Minister, addressing the issue in a strongly worded statement, accused Agnihotri of making factually incorrect and misleading statements that could potentially damage the cordial relationship between the two states. “Before making any statement on the Shanan Power Project, Agnihotri should acquaint himself with the historical and legal facts,” said ETO.
He reminded Agnihotri that under the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, the Government of India had issued a notification dated May 1, 1967, which clearly allocated the Jogindernagar hydro power assets — including the Shanan Project — to the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), now functioning as Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). This legal framework, Harbhajan Singh emphasized, cannot be altered or contested arbitrarily.
“Any Act passed by the Parliament becomes the law of the land. Therefore, the ownership of the Shanan Project is governed by statutory provisions, and it indisputably belongs to Punjab," the Minister stated.
Citing further evidence, Harbhajan Singh pointed to a communication issued by the Union Ministry of Irrigation and Power on March 22, 1972, which categorically stated that the 1967 notification would remain unaltered. Even when Himachal Pradesh raised the issue of ownership in 1987, the Centre rejected its claims, reiterating Punjab’s legal ownership.
Responding to Agnihotri's reference to the 99-year lease granted by the Raja of Mandi to the British government in 1925, Punjab Minister clarified that while the project construction began in 1925 and was completed in 1932, the legal ownership post-Independence transitioned in line with central legislation. “After Independence, every district in what is now Himachal Pradesh was once part of Punjab. The historical lease agreement cannot override Parliamentary law,” he said.
He accused Agnihotri of misleading the public with “fabricated” historical claims. “Such statements are not only factually incorrect but also a deliberate attempt to misguide the people of Himachal,” ETO alleged.
He also noted that the Himachal Chief Minister had in 2023 written to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann requesting the transfer of the Shanan Project, citing the expiry of the lease. In response, Punjab, unwilling to cede its legal rights, has already approached the Supreme Court of India through its Power Department Secretary. The matter is currently sub judice.
“In light of this, Agnihotri must refrain from making provocative and baseless statements about the Shanan Power Project,” concluded the Minister.