New Delhi, July 16 (ANI): Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has again stressed the need for honouring inter-state agreements, saying Rajasthan's share in power projects should be fixed as per the agreements.
He also demanded that his state should get additional allocation from hydropower generation projects set up by central power undertakings. ehlot was speaking at the 26th meeting of North Zone Council held under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram in Chandigarh last week.
Inter-state matters related to Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chandigarh were discussed in the meeting.
Gehlot urged that the meetings of the council should be held within short duration so that proper follow up on time could be done on the decisions taken.
Gehlot referred to the water agreement of Ravi-Beas river held between the Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana in 1981, and said that Rajasthan was allotted 8.60 MAF water under the agreement, but Punjab had not made available the 0.60 MAF water up till now.
He said that keeping in view the shortage of water in Rajasthan this water should be provided without delay.
Shri Gehlot said that as per the terms of the Indus Water Treaty and Sutlej, Beas and Ravi river water agreement, Rajasthan had filed for 575.54 megawatt share of electricity from hydro power generation projects of Punjab, like Anandpur Sahib, Mukarian, U.B.D.C., stage-IInd, Thein dam and Shahpur Kandi hydro power projects.
He said that till the decision of the Supreme Court comes, Rajasthan should be provided electricity from the un-allocated share of hydropower under the control of Government of India.
Gehlot emphasized that high technique should be used for maintenance of water by Bhakhara Beas Management Board (B.B.M.B) and said that an effective action plan was necessary in this regard so that Pong and Bhakhara dam could be filled to their full capacity and all states get sufficient water.
Referring to the MOU signed for allocation of Yamuna river water between Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi in 12.5.1994, Gehlot said that as per this agreement 1.119 B.C.M. share of water was fixed for Rajasthan.
He said that in proportion to this share of water for Rajasthan, the Government of India should decide immediately the share of state from hydropower projects constructed on Yamuna River such as Renuka, Kishau and Lakhwar Beasi dam projects.
The Chief Minister suggested that for the speedy solution of inter-state water disputes and to protect the interests of the concerned states, the canals and rivers should be declared as national canals and rivers. He said that if constitutional amendment is necessary for this, it should also be considered.
He requested the Haryana Government to allow Rajasthan to use their canal network for transportation of water to Rajasthan border from Tajewala Headworks for solution of drinking water in Churu and Jhunjhunu districts of the state.
He also pointed out that according to the provisions of Punjab Reorganization Act 1966, the control of Ropar, Harike and Firozpur head works was to be transferred to B.B.M.B. from Punjab but this has not been handed over by the Punjab Government so far. He said that this should be implemented immediately.
Gehlot said that five projects of 2x660 megawatt capacity each in state sector and one project in private sector were being set up by the state government, but coal linkages and coal blocks have not been allocated for these projects so far. He requested the Government of India to take immediate action in this regard.
Gehlot urged that decision should be taken to put a total ban on 'Gutka' and other related food products by all the states of the North Zone Council so that it could be implemented effectively.
Drawing the attention towards the illegal business of 'Doda Post', he requested the Government of India that manufacturing units based on new techniques for separating alchlolide from opium should be set up in the state.
Drawing the attention towards different excise policies in different states, Gehlot said that since there was no uniform excise policy in the states, illegal sale and smuggling of liquor from the neighbouring states was resorted to by the people.
This, he said was having an adverse impact on the revenue of the state.
He suggested that an expert group should be constituted in this regard, which would study the excise policies of different states and give suggestions about bringing uniformity in them so that smuggling of liquor could be controlled.
Gehlot apprised in the meeting that since Rajasthan was a large state, the cost of providing services in the remote areas was much more.
In such a situation the state should be given a special package specially for arrangements of drinking water on priority basis. (ANI)
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