The Supreme Court has finally ended the 60-year-old Bhakra-Beas power dispute between Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant on Friday approved the Centre’s cashless settlement and directed Punjab and Haryana to supply 11,973 million units of electricity to Himachal Pradesh over the next 20 years. The historic order brings to a close a decades-long row over power dues arising from the Bhakra Beas Management Board projects. Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana were also part of the bench. The verdict comes as a major relief for Himachal Pradesh, which had won its case in 2011 but had still not received its due even after 15 years.
The dispute dates back to 1966, when the reorganisation of Punjab raised questions over the sharing of power from the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas projects. Himachal Pradesh filed a suit in the Supreme Court in 1996 under Article 131 of the Constitution. On September 27, 2011, the Supreme Court decreed the suit in favour of Himachal Pradesh, holding that it was entitled to 7.19 per cent of the power generated from the Bhakra-Nangal project with effect from November 1, 1966, and from the Beas project from the dates of production in its units. Punjab’s share was fixed at 51.80 per cent and Haryana’s at 37.51 per cent. But the decree remained on paper, and Himachal Pradesh received nothing for a decade and a half.
The Supreme Court has now laid down a concrete path to enforce that decree. The total energy arrears due to Himachal Pradesh, as computed by the Central Electricity Authority, were taken at 13,066 million units. Against this, Himachal Pradesh’s liability towards its 7.19 per cent share of the capital cost of the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas projects, representing the unreimbursed share of loan servicing undertaken by Punjab and Haryana since 1966-67, was assessed at Rs 420.77 crore. Of this, Rs 249.23 crore was attributable to Punjab and Rs 171.55 crore to Haryana. Valuing the energy at Rs 3.85 per unit, this liability was adjusted against approximately 1,093 million units of the arrears. After this adjustment, the balance energy arrears payable to Himachal Pradesh stood at approximately 11,973 million units.
The electricity will be supplied at the rate of approximately 598 million units per annum over 20 lean seasons, from October to March, in the inter se ratio of 58:42 for the Bhakra-Nangal project and 60:40 for the Beas projects. The court enlarged the period of supply from 15 years to 20 years to ease the burden on Punjab and Haryana. The settlement framework was evolved through deliberations led by Attorney General R Venkataramani. The Supreme Court rejected the objections raised by Punjab, observing that a decree pending for several decades cannot be rendered fruitless by the unwillingness of the judgement-debtor states.
The order opens a new chapter of cooperation between the three states and puts a final quietus to the oldest dispute linked to the Bhakra Beas Management Board projects. The electricity will strengthen Himachal Pradesh’s energy security and give momentum to its development plans. The verdict also matters for Haryana, a key partner in the Bhakra-Nangal project, as the settlement brings stability to inter-state relations and ends decades of litigation over shared river valley projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Supreme Court decide in the Bhakra power dispute?
The Supreme Court directed Punjab and Haryana to supply 11,973 million units of electricity to Himachal Pradesh over 20 years, ending the 60-year-old Bhakra-Beas power dispute.
What share of power was Himachal Pradesh given?
Under the Supreme Court’s 2011 verdict, Himachal Pradesh is entitled to 7.19 per cent of the power from the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas projects. Punjab’s share is 51.80 per cent and Haryana’s is 37.51 per cent.
How was the figure of 11,973 million units arrived at?
The Central Electricity Authority computed total arrears at 13,066 million units. After adjusting Himachal Pradesh’s capital-cost liability of Rs 420.77 crore, worth about 1,093 million units, the balance payable stood at 11,973 million units.
When and how will Himachal Pradesh receive the electricity?
The power will be supplied at about 598 million units per year during the lean season from October to March over 20 years, in the ratio of 58:42 for Bhakra-Nangal and 60:40 for the Beas projects between Punjab and Haryana.
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