Himachal minister approaches speaker invoking anti-defection law against 3 MLAs
The three MLAs' petition is pending in the high court against the Speaker for not approving their resignation from the State Legislative Assembly.
Water cess levied in Himachal Pradesh on hydro-power projects of the state will not put any financial burden on the common people.
An official spokesperson of the state government clarified here on Sunday that the government has imposed water cess only on hydro-power projects of the state and it will not put any financial burden on the common people.
He said that the implementation of water cess was aimed at increasing revenue and strengthening state economy so that sufficient funds could be made available for welfare schemes.
Advertisement
He said apart from Himachal Pradesh, the water cess was being imposed on hydropower projects in neighbouring state Uttarakhand and Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as well.
He said that 172 hydro power projects have been brought under the purview of water cess. The water cess will be collected by the state government from the hydro power projects keeping in view the size of the project and other parameters, he added.
The implementation of the water cess will not have any financial implications on the general public of the state as the state government will collect this cess only from these hydro-power projects.
The spokesman said that the state government has implemented the Himachal Pradesh Water Cess on Hydropower Generation Ordinance on March 10, 2023 and the Himachal Pradesh Water Cess on Hydropower Generation Bill, 2023 would also be brought in the upcoming assembly session, for which the state cabinet has already given its approval.
Advertisement
