Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Thursday, 17 September 2026, claimed that the Congress government had successfully safeguarded the state's interests in the Kishau multipurpose dam agreement, securing benefits of approximately ₹1,500 crore for the state without any additional financial outlay. Speaking at a public meeting at Rail in Nadaun, Hamirpur district, Sukhu argued that the deal positioned Himachal Pradesh far more favourably than its co-riparian partner, Uttarakhand.

Key Claims on the Kishau Agreement

Chief Minister Sukhu said that under the Kishau project, Himachal Pradesh would receive benefits worth around ₹1,500 crore at zero additional investment, while Uttarakhand would need to spend approximately ₹3,000 crore to generate a comparable return. He noted that Uttarakhand had sought an arrangement similar to Himachal's but was unable to secure one. Sukhu added that he had personally engaged with the Uttarakhand Chief Minister to understand the neighbouring state's concerns.

The Chief Minister disclosed that the project's estimated cost, pegged at around ₹800 crore five years ago, has now escalated to between ₹3,000 crore and ₹5,000 crore — a development he said had compounded Uttarakhand's burden, with a larger area of land in that state also being affected. He stated that three key inter-state meetings on the Kishau project had been convened after the Congress government assumed power in Himachal Pradesh, each aimed at consolidating the state's position.

BJP Leaders in the Crosshairs

Taking aim at the political opposition, Sukhu said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Anurag Singh Thakur and Jai Ram Thakur should direct their questions to Uttarakhand rather than raising concerns domestically. He alleged that the previous BJP government in Himachal Pradesh had caused damage to state resources and accused it of not pursuing the state's financial rights aggressively enough.

Sukhu also highlighted two legal victories secured under his administration. In the Wildflower Hall case, which had been pending in court for 23 years, the state government won in the Supreme Court, bringing ₹401 crore into the state exchequer and generating additional income of approximately ₹2 crore per month. In a separate matter, the state challenged a High Court ruling on an additional six per cent royalty from JSW before the Supreme Court and prevailed — yielding additional annual revenue of roughly ₹150 crore.

BBMB Arrears and Broader Accountability

Sukhu expressed confidence that the state's long-pending Beas-Satluj Basin Management Board (BBMB) arrears would be resolved soon, framing it as part of a sustained push to recover all legitimate dues owed to Himachal Pradesh. He said the state government had been consistently pursuing cases related to its interests before higher courts.

Addressing the gathering directly, Sukhu said, 'As long as I am the Chief Minister, I will continue to fight for the people. We will not bow down to any temptation.' He maintained that public trust remained the foundation of the government's negotiating strength on inter-state matters.

What's Next

With cost overruns on the Kishau project continuing to mount and land acquisition in Uttarakhand still a live concern, the financial and inter-state dynamics of the dam's execution will remain closely watched. The government's next milestone — resolution of BBMB arrears — is expected to test its track record on revenue recovery claims.