Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria on Friday, 27 June 2026, raising a set of long-pending inter-state issues including the state's claimed share in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, pending dues from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), and the Shanan Hydroelectric Project dispute.

Context

The meeting was a courtesy call that quickly turned substantive. CM Sukhu reiterated Himachal Pradesh's claim to a 7.19 per cent share in Chandigarh, grounding the assertion in the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. Under that legislation, Himachal Pradesh is recognised as a successor state of undivided Punjab, entitled to a population-proportionate share of the assets of the erstwhile composite state — including those used to build the Union Territory capital.

Sukhu pointed out that while Punjab and Haryana have benefited from Chandigarh's land, assets and administrative infrastructure for over five decades, Himachal Pradesh has remained deprived of its lawful entitlement. The claim has been raised periodically since Himachal Pradesh attained full statehood in 1971, but has not been formally settled.

Policy Backdrop

The Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 created the legal architecture for dividing assets and liabilities among Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Chandigarh, developed using the pooled resources of undivided Punjab, was designated a Union Territory and made the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana. Himachal Pradesh's share in those joint resources has remained a contested and unresolved chapter of the reorganisation settlement.

On the infrastructure front, CM Sukhu pressed for construction of an additional Himachal Sadan in Chandigarh. He noted that following consultations with the Chandigarh Administration, a plot of 4.736 acres in Sector 52 has been identified for the purpose. He also sought early resolution of long-pending financial dues owed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board — the statutory body overseeing the Bhakra and Beas river projects — to Himachal Pradesh.

Stakeholders and Impact

The issues raised directly affect the residents of Himachal Pradesh, who stand to benefit from a formal recognition of the state's Chandigarh stake, better state facilities in the UT, and the release of BBMB arrears. The Shanan Hydroelectric Project — a long-running dispute between Himachal Pradesh and Punjab over operational rights and revenue — was also placed before Governor Kataria in his capacity as Chandigarh Administrator.

Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, a veteran BJP leader, holds a pivotal administrative role as the Union government's representative for Chandigarh. The meeting signals that Himachal Pradesh's Congress government is pursuing these claims through official channels with the Centre's appointed administrator, keeping the inter-state dialogue active ahead of any potential federal-level review.

What's Next

The discussions are expected to be followed up at the level of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which has jurisdiction over Union Territories, and possibly through the Inter-State Council or bilateral mechanisms. A formal resolution of Himachal Pradesh's 7.19 per cent Chandigarh claim would require central arbitration and consent from Punjab and Haryana, making the political pathway as complex as the legal one. Progress on the Himachal Sadan site in Sector 52 and BBMB dues could, however, move faster through administrative orders.