The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday rejected the state government’s demand for 18 per cent free power instead of the 13 per cent free power limit from JSW Hydro Energy’s Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Plant.
The division bench of High Court Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, while accepting the petition of the management of the Karcham Wangtoo power project located in Kinnaur district of JSW Company, reduced the 18 per cent free electricity given by this project to the state government. The court ordered to collect 13 per cent free electricity as per the order of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.
In the case, on behalf of the petitioner company JSW Hydro Energy, the court was told that as per the contract with the government, it was decided to give 13 per cent of the total electricity production to Himachal Pradesh free of cost for the first 12 years. At the same time, it was decided to provide 18 per cent free electricity for the remaining 28 years.
The company said that it is giving 18 per cent free power to Himachal along with its objection, so that no punitive action is taken against the petitioner project.
