HP Power Sector: HPSEBL Employees in HPPCL Get April 30 as Deadline

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HP Power Sector: Financial Troubles Linger as CM Vows to Strengthen HPSEBL

Shimla, April 7 — Even as the Himachal Pradesh government pushes for reforms in the power sector, the financial woes of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) continue to cast a long shadow.

In a high-level review meeting of the Energy Department chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today, the pending arrears — primarily accrued from state-sponsored power subsidies — remained unaddressed.

Employees of HPSEBL, currently on deputation with the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) and the Directorate of Energy, have now been given a choice: either opt for permanent absorption in their present organizations or return to HPSEBL. The deadline for this decision has been set for April 30.

Despite no major restructuring announcements for the energy sector following the government's recent decision to reclaim two projects from SJVN and one from NHPC, the Chief Minister reiterated the state’s commitment to bolstering HPSEBL.

“The state government will provide all possible support to ensure better services for the people,” Sukhu assured.

However, HPSEBL engineers argue that the government’s moves amount to mere internal restructuring, not genuine reforms.

"There are no real reforms happening — it's just shuffling within the departments," they contend, pointing out that critical policy overhauls and financial resolutions remain untouched.

Highlighting operational challenges, the CM emphasized large-scale recruitment to fill field vacancies, acknowledging the critical role of HPSEBL staff in maintaining electricity supply across the state. Vacant posts in the organization will be filled on priority to strengthen ground-level operations.

The performance of HPSEBL, however, remains under scrutiny. The 100 MW Uhl Stage-III project, plagued by a staggering 22-year delay and a costly penstock burst in May 2020, is finally ready for formal inauguration.

Thanks to an infusion of Rs 185 crore by the current government, the project has already generated 2.97 crore units of electricity. It is expected to yield Rs 200 crore annually, though the per-unit cost remains undisclosed.

The CM’s assurances come at a time when HPSEBL’s deepening financial crisis, coupled with unresolved subsidy arrears, continues to cloud the outlook for the state’s power sector.

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Shimla, April 9: With unanswered questions piling up and serious gaps surfacing in the official investigation, the family of deceased HPPCL Chief Engineer Vimal Negi has decided to approach the Himachal Pradesh High Court in the coming days, demanding that the probe be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Kiran Negi, the wife of the late engineer, said in no uncertain terms: "We have no other option left. The manner in which this case has been handled — from the very first day — leaves us with deep suspicion. Only the CBI can uncover the full truth."

The family’s demand for a CBI probe has grown louder following revelations in the bail petition filed by HPPCL Director Des Raj in the Supreme Court, where a detailed chronology of events was cited. The date is too long for next hearing in July.

The family believes that this very timeline raises more questions than answers and wants the call detail records (CDRs) of Des Raj, HPPCL Director (Personnel) Shivam Pratap Singh, and another official, Meena, to be thoroughly examined.

Timeline Under Scrutiny:

March 10: Vimal Negi goes missing from Shimla. CCTV footage places him in Ghumarwin, having hired a private taxi from Shimla. The family was not informed about his missing from the office. Des Raj had claimed in his petition that Negi and he were good friends for 20 years.
March 11: No clear information on his whereabouts. Questions persist about where he stayed and whom he met. Family alleges complete silence from the police during this period.
March 12: Still no contact. Meanwhile, family claims officials continued to evade direct answers.
March 13: As per the forensic report from AIIMS Bilaspur, this is the estimated date of death. Yet, the family asks — where was he for these three critical days?
March 18: Vimal Negi’s body is recovered from Bhakra Dam, near Swarghat. Shockingly, the family was not called to the site but was instead directed to AIIMS Bilaspur, where the body was taken by the police.

Key Questions the Family Wants Answered:

Why Was the Family Not Informed at the Time of Body Recovery?
Instead of being taken to the recovery site at Bhakra Dam, the family was asked to come to AIIMS Bilaspur. They suspect mishandling or possible tampering with evidence- mainly the documents.
Who Was the Mysterious Person from Chandigarh?
According to local accounts, Vimal Negi told a tea vendor in Ghumarwin that he was waiting for someone arriving from Chandigarh. To date, the SIT has failed to trace or even identify this person.
No Independent Witnesses at Recovery:
The family points out there were no independent witnesses at the time the body was recovered. This omission has fueled suspicions about transparency in handling crucial evidence.
Missing 72 Hours:
From the time Vimal Negi left Shimla to when his body was found, his whereabouts remain a mystery. The family demands to know where he was kept during this period and who he may have been with.
Call Detail Records of Senior HPPCL Officials:
The family has now officially demanded the examination of call details of HPPCL’s Des Raj, Director (Personnel) Shivam Pratap Singh, and MD Harikesh Meena, stating these could reveal crucial links or conversations that have so far been suppressed.

Family’s Outrage:
"Our fundamental question remains unanswered: was Vimal Negi forcibly taken, made to sign certain documents, and then murdered? The CCTV footage shows him carrying papers. Why has the SIT not pursued this lead with sincerity?" said Kiran Negi.

The family also alleges that the investigation has been "guided selectively," possibly to shield certain influential quarters. "We are being denied justice. We will move the High Court in the next couple of days. Nothing short of a CBI probe will suffice,".

As this mystery over the case continues to unfold, pressure is mounting on the state police and SIT to respond to these burning questions.

Meanwhile, all eyes are now on the family’s impending move to the High Court and the growing chorus for a central agency takeover.

News

Himachal Needs Total War on Drugs, Not Just Habitual offenders, But Political Links Too

SHIMLA— The arrest of a Haryana cop in the drug racket has blown the lid off a harsh truth.

The 'chitta' network is not just about peddlers. It runs deep. Police lines are breached. Political power is shielding the rot.

Himachal Police is patting its back. Under the PIT NDPS Act, 20 offenders are now behind bars.

In just two weeks, 16 were detained. All three police ranges have acted. But let’s be real. This is not enough.

Big names are in the net:

Amit Kumar alias Kammu, from Una.

Rajeev Thakur alias Raja, from Kangra.

Sandeep Chauhan alias Sandy, from Solan.

Manish Verma alias Mani, from Mandi.

Vikas Rana alias Vicky Don, from Hamirpur.

Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha, from Bilaspur.

Rohit Kumar alias Roro, from Shimla.

Dinesh Mehta alias Dina, from Kullu.

Baldev Thakur alias Ballu, from Chamba.

Rakesh Rana alias Raka, from Sirmaur.

Praveen Sharma alias Pinu, from Kangra.

Sunil Chauhan alias Sunny, from Solan.

Mohit Verma alias Monty, from Mandi.

Ashok Kumar alias Shoka, from Bilaspur.

Anil Thakur alias Annu, from Kullu.

Vikram Singh alias Vicky, from Chamba.

Karan Kumar alias Karanu, from Hamirpur.

Jitender alias Jeetu, from Una.

Yogesh alias Yogi, from Shimla.

Harjeet alias Jeeta, from Solan.

The PIT NDPS Act works fast. It jails repeat offenders before they strike again. No need to wait for slow trials.

No need to wait for new cases. But Himachal needs more than small steps. It’s time for big, bold action.

Money fuels this dirty trade. The PIT law hits cash flows. Properties are frozen right after detention.

Assets are seized within a year. But cutting the cash is just part of the war.

The real battle is against power shields. Dealers hide behind politics. Some are protected by high places.

This must end. Zero tolerance is the way. No mercy for offenders. No mercy for their protectors.

“Many stay below quantity limits to dodge big punishment,” said Shri Atul Verma, IPS, Himachal DGP. "The PIT Act shuts that door."

He is right. But the state must go all in. Break the money chain. Smash the power links. Finish this network, root and branch.

#WarOnDrugs

#ZeroTolerance

#BreakTheCartel

#NoSafeHaven

#DrugFreeHimachal

#ChittaNetworkExposed

#PoliticalNexusMustFall

#SeizeTheAssets

#ProtectOurYouth

#StopDrugMafia

News

Writers Set to Trace Baba Bhalku’s Forgotten Tracks in Kalka-Shimla Literary Yatra 2025

Shimla: This April, the rhythmic chug of the historic Kalka-Shimla toy train will carry more than just passengers.

It will carry stories, memories, and a heartfelt tribute to an unsung hero: Baba Bhalku, the mystical guide and untrained engineer whose instinct and dedication helped carve this marvel through the stubborn folds of the Himalayas.

The Himalaya Sahitya Sanskriti Evam Paryavaran Manch is set to host the Baba Bhalku Smriti Kalka-Shimla Literary Rail Yatra on April 12–13, 2025.

Bringing together 33 writers from across the country, the journey promises not only literary musings but also a revival of Bhalku’s near-mythical legacy.

Despite no formal education or engineering degrees, Baba Bhalku’s uncanny wisdom often rescued British engineers from construction deadlocks, his intuition guiding the alignment of the challenging track.

Yet, for all his contributions, Bhalku remains a shadowed figure in history. Through this festival, the organizers aim to finally shine a long-overdue light on his remarkable story.

Interestingly, a subtle commentary emerges this year — had the organizers roped in a British national, it would have truly come full circle, uniting the colonial architects with the native genius who time and again pulled them from the brink of failure.

After all, Bhalku, despite his humble origins, stood shoulder to shoulder with British engineers, often outsmarting their technical quandaries with sheer instinct.

Celebrating Custodians of Legacy

Adding to the celebration, B.R. Mehta, a stalwart of Indian broadcasting and theater, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

In a touching gesture, the festival will also felicitate Bhalku’s descendants — Durgadatt.

Hydro Power

Himachal's Takeover of SJVN, NHPC Projects: High Risks, Higher Revenue Stakes

Himachal Eyeing State Control Over SJVN and NHPC Hydropower Projects is fraught with Legal Tangles and it needs more than what meets the eye.

Shimla:

In a redefining policy initiative the Himachal Pradesh government under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has decided to take back around 1,000 MW of hydroelectric projects previously allotted to central PSUs — NHPC and SJVN — reopening a complex chapter of revenue imperatives, legal entanglements, and economic calculations.

These projects- Luhri Stage-I is in Satluj, Dhaulasidh is in Beas and Dugar in Chenab are under execution.

On the other hand, the projects alloted to private players under earlier regimes were primarily in the Chenab basin in snowbound Lahaul-Spiti region.

The private players were giants like Tata Power, Moserbaer, Reliance Power, and DCM Shriram during.

Under the hydro policy framed during the tenure of late Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, private developers were obligated to supply free power to the state government in a progressive slab system: 12% for the first 12 years, 18% for the next 18 years, and 30% thereafter until the project was handed over to the state after 40 years in functional condition.

However, private developers soon raised red flags about economic viability, citing the unique challenges of constructing in Lahaul-Spiti’s harsh terrain.

With the region cut off for nearly five months a year and severe winters curtailing construction to just seven months annually, developers argued that project costs could escalate by 50–60%.

Acknowledging these concerns, the then Virbhadra Singh government agreed to defer the recovery of free power dues in the initial 10 years post-commissioning, providing breathing space for loan repayments.

Despite these concessions, most private projects stumbled into legal disputes, eventually leading the government to cancel the allotments on various grounds.

The developers, however, took the matter to courts and arbitration, where disputes remain unresolved to this day.

In the subsequent Jai Ram Thakur regime, a shift in strategy saw several of these disputed projects handed over to central PSUs — NHPC and SJVN — with major policy relaxations to sweeten the deal.

Notably, the PSUs were allowed to pay a flat 12% free power across the project life cycle, ditching the earlier stepped slabs, and the requirement of handing over the projects to the state after 40 years was scrapped.

If NHPC and SJVN had commissioned these projects under such relaxed terms, Himachal Pradesh stood to lose roughly ₹200 crore in annual revenue at current power rates of ₹4.50 per unit — a cumulative shortfall of nearly ₹8,000 crore over 40 years.

Given these numbers, the current government’s decision reclaiming the these projects is financially prudent for the state.

However, the road ahead is laden with uncertainties.

NHPC and SJVN are expected to legally contest the cancellation of their allotments, potentially stalling any fresh bids.

Even private developers, as history shows, have not hesitated to seek legal remedies.

The subjudice status of many of these projects casts a shadow over future allotments.

Fresh agreements with new developers, if pursued, will need to account for pending court decisions.

Telangana’s example, where two such cancelled projects — Seli (400 MW) and Miyar (120 MW) — were picked up, offers some precedent, though the terms remain unclear.

Skepticism also clouds private sector interest in these projects

The old conditions, especially high free power slabs, could deter serious bidders. The viability becomes questionable, especially with the burden of free power commitments.

Against this backdrop, the state government could have exercised its best option by reserving these projects for execution within the state sector in the past.

By doing so, Himachal could have reduced the free power burden and cut generation costs by up to ₹1 per unit, making projects more viable.

But the change in regimes also changed the priorities of the government.

Professionalizing the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. (HPPCL) to the standards of NHPC and SJVN could have been the crucial next step — albeit an ambitious one.

As the Sukhu government doubles down on asserting energy sovereignty, Himachal’s hydro dreams hinge on its ability to navigate legal storms, restore investor confidence, and build its own capacity to harness its water wealth.

Both NHPC and SJVN could challenge the cancellation of their allotments in court, following the precedent set by private developers who have contested similar decisions through arbitration and legal channels.

Even the Dugar project, which was allotted to NHPC, remains sub judice, underscoring the legal complexities awaiting the state.

The government has deployed an evaluator to study the projects to SJVN and NHPC.

Much will depend on its findings and what next step the the state government takes.

Further, Himachal Pradesh holds equity stakes only in SJVN projects, not NHPC.

Thus, while the state will continue to receive its share of power from these equity stakes, revenue potential is directly tied to its ability to retain control over future project development.

A crucial question remains: will there be fresh takers for these projects under the old conditions that the Sukhu government has reassert.

Experts are skeptical. The viability of these projects is in serious doubt, especially given the current structure of free power obligations that private players are expected to meet.

With high free power slabs and other cost factors, private sector enthusiasm is expected to be muted.

However, this path requires significant institutional strengthening and a complete overhaul of the state-run corporations which on the face of it are mired in corruption and corporate issues, lacking both expertise and professionalism that SJVN and NHPC have.

The state need to professionalize HPPCL (Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited) on the lines of NHPC and SJVN.

It is a "tall task" but a necessary step for long-term self-reliance in power generation and enhanced revenue realization.

As the stare government embarks on this ambitious restructuring of Himachal’s hydropower landscape, the vision is clear: to build energy sovereignty, bolster state revenues, and create a robust public-sector-led growth model.

But the road ahead will demand patient planning, legal resilience, and institutional grit.

Track record of HPPCL and HPSEBL inspires little confidence at this stage. Organizations, dealing with power sector, headed by bureaucrats, not by technocrats, is a major concern.

Can the state government inject extra power in its enterprises? Wishing and making good money is one thing, but delivering and execution is entirely a new game.

Government must weigh its pros and cons before taking a final call.

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HP Power Sector: HPSEBL Employees in HPPCL Get April 30 as Deadline

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