CM Sukhu raises BBMB dues, Shanan project with HP Governor
Synopsis
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu raised two long-pending inter-state infrastructure issues — BBMB dues and the Shanan Hydroelectric Project — before the Himachal Pradesh Governor on 26 June 2026, seeking federal-level intervention to resolve disputes rooted in the 1966 Punjab Reorganisation Act.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu raised the issue of long-pending dues from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) before the Himachal Pradesh Governor on 26 June 2026 .
The status of the Shanan Hydroelectric Project ( 110 MW , located in Mandi district ) was also placed before the Governor.
The BBMB was constituted under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 , and manages shared river projects across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan .
Inter-state disputes over water and power royalties from jointly managed projects have persisted for over six decades.
Escalation to the Governor's office is a federal coordination step that could trigger engagement from the Union Ministry of Power or BBMB .
The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh announced on Friday, 26 June 2026 that Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu raised two long-standing inter-state infrastructure disputes before the Himachal Pradesh Governor — pending dues from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and the status of the Shanan Hydroelectric Project.
Context
The official post from the Chief Minister's Office states that CM Sukhu raised 'भाखड़ा ब्यास प्रबंधन बोर्ड (बीबीएमबी) से संबंधित लंबे समय से लंबित देयों के शीघ्र निपटारे का विषय' — 'the matter of early settlement of long-pending dues related to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB)' — before the Governor. The post also confirms that the issue of the Shanan Hydroelectric Project was separately placed before the Governor for consideration.
Both issues have been points of contention for Himachal Pradesh for years, and their escalation to the Governor signals the state government's intent to seek federal-level intervention.
Policy Backdrop
The BBMB is a statutory body constituted under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, mandated to operate and maintain the Bhakra Nangal and Beas river projects — shared assets of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. Disputes over benefit-sharing, royalties, and outstanding dues among these successor states have persisted since the Act came into force six decades ago.
The Shanan Hydroelectric Project, a 110 MW facility located in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, has historically had operational linkages with Punjab, making its jurisdictional and revenue status a recurring subject of inter-state negotiation. Himachal Pradesh has consistently sought greater control over projects physically situated within its territory.
Stakeholders and Impact
State power utilities and the governments of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan are all stakeholders in the resolution of BBMB-related dues. Any settlement would directly affect the revenue position of the Himachal Pradesh government, which has been vocal about its fiscal pressures since CM Sukhu took office in December 2022.
For the Shanan project, resolution could determine long-term power generation rights and royalty flows into the state exchequer, with downstream implications for Himachal Pradesh's energy sector planning.
What's Next
The escalation of both matters to the Governor's office is a standard federal coordination mechanism, and any formal communication from the Governor to the Union Ministry of Power or the BBMB will be the key development to watch. A central response or directive could unlock movement on dues that have remained unresolved through bilateral state-level discussions.
With Himachal Pradesh pushing through the Governor's channel, the resolution timeline now depends on how swiftly the Centre engages with the inter-state dimensions of both the BBMB liability and the Shanan project's future.
Point of View
Pushing the Centre into a mediating role. This fits a broader pattern of the Himachal Pradesh Congress government using federal channels to press revenue claims — a politically useful posture that frames fiscal grievances as constitutional entitlements rather than inter-party disputes. The Shanan project issue carries particular sensitivity given its location in HP but its operational history with Punjab, a state also governed by a non-BJP party. How the Governor and the Centre respond will reveal how much appetite exists at the federal level to reopen these decades-old reorganisation-era settlements.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BBMB and why does Himachal Pradesh have pending dues from it?
The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is a statutory body under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 , managing shared river projects among Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan . Himachal Pradesh has long claimed outstanding dues related to its share of benefits from these jointly managed projects.
What is the Shanan Hydroelectric Project?
The Shanan Hydroelectric Project is a 110 MW hydel facility located in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh with historical operational ties to Punjab , making its jurisdictional and revenue status a subject of inter-state dispute.
Why did CM Sukhu raise these issues with the Governor?
Raising inter-state infrastructure and revenue disputes with the Governor is a standard federal coordination mechanism in India, allowing a state to formally seek central government attention or intervention when bilateral negotiations have stalled.
Who is Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu?
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh , heading the state Congress government since December 2022 .
What happens after the Governor receives these issues?
The Governor may formally communicate the state's concerns to the Union Ministry of Power or the BBMB , potentially triggering a central review or directive on the pending dues and the Shanan project's status.
