HP to supply 250 MW to Punjab from June

Chandigarh, Mar 9 (UNI) Punjab today secured a commitment for the supply of 250 MWs of power from the neighboring state, Himachal Pardesh during the forthcoming summer months.

Although initially HP agreed to supply electricity from July to September, HP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal responded positively to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's request to start it from the month of June to facilitate the paddy sowing operations.

The two Chief Ministers reached this agreement during a breakfast meeting at Mr Badal's residence here this morning.

The two CMs also agreed to jointly approach the Central Government to grant special category status to the Shahnehar project and lend the mandatory 90 per cent central assistance for the scheme.

In a significant development, the two Chief Ministers also reached a strategic understanding for a ropeway linkage between Sri Anandpur Sahib in Punjab and the holy shrine of Naina Devi in HP .

Necessary details of this project would be worked out by RITES.

The details include the early preparation of an economic feasibility report. The project will have momentous implications for the promotion of religious tourism in the two states.

The Punjab Chief Minister also assured Prof Dhumal that the road from Siswan to Baddi in HP will be completed by June next year as the requisite formalities in terms of invitation of tenders had been completed. The Siswan-Baddi link will eventually lead to the construction of a highway to link Sri Anandpur Sahib with Chandigarh.

This highway will not only shorten the distance between the two major destinations but will also open up the entire zone lying between the two cities for development. It will also take the load off the busy Chandigarh-Ropar--Sri Anandpur Sahib-Nangal highway, finally connecting Una in HP.

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