MANDI: In a fiery and uncompromising declaration from the historic Seri stage in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri made it clear that the Shanan Power Project belongs to Himachal Pradesh, and there will be no negotiation or compromise on this issue.
Raising the pitch on the long-standing dispute with Punjab, Agnihotri, who was chief guest at the district-level Himachal Day celebration at Mandi, said that the project is located in Jogindernagar, Mandi, a district that has never been part of Punjab, and therefore, Himachal holds absolute and undisputed rights over it.
“If Punjab truly considers Himachal its younger brother, it should willingly hand over what is rightfully ours,” he declared to resounding applause.
Lease expired, ownership reclaimed
The 99-year lease agreement under which the Shanan Power Project was being operated expired in March 2024.
This lease, signed during British rule in 1925 between the Raja of Mandi and British engineers serving colonial Punjab, granted operational control over the project while ensuring certain benefits to the Mandi princely state. That agreement has now run its course — and with its expiration, so has Punjab’s claim, Agnihotri asserted.
He stressed that the project was never within the legal purview of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, and any attempts to associate it with that legislation are not just misleading but legally untenable.
“This is not merely a question of electricity or territory. This is about Himachal’s dignity, its legal rights, and its legacy,” he said.
Matter pending before Supreme Court
The matter has now reached the Supreme Court, where both Himachal and Punjab have staked their positions.
While Punjab seeks to retain possession through old administrative channels, Himachal Pradesh is pushing for what it believes is a long-overdue correction of historical injustice.
The government of Himachal has made it clear that the project, now free of any legal binds, must revert to the state’s control without delay.
Agnihotri’s tone left no room for ambiguity — Himachal will not back down, not even an inch. “This is not a request. This is a declaration,” he said, underlining that the people of the state are united and firm in their resolve.
Symbol of Himachal’s sovereignty
Beyond the legalities, the Shanan Power Project has become a symbol of state pride. For decades, power generated from Himachal’s rivers lit up homes in Punjab and beyond, while Himachal itself watched from the sidelines.
The Deputy CM’s strong words have resonated with the people, who now demand that justice — legal, historical, and moral — be served.
“This is not just about reclaiming a power house. It’s about reclaiming our power — the power of our rights, our identity, and our future,” Agnihotri declared, drawing a clear line in the sand.
With the matter pending in court and the central government urging both states to maintain status quo, the political and public temperature continues to rise. But one thing is now certain: Himachal Pradesh has made its position crystal clear — the Shanan Power Project is not just on its land, it is part of its legacy. And that legacy, as Agnihotri said, “will remain with Himachal, forever.”
Munish Sood
