Shimla: To save the Delhi-based Himachal Bhawan from attachment, the state government may make an advance payment of Rs 64 crore to a hydro power company in the High Court today. The government has prepared a draft for this. Today it will be deposited in the court registry.
Let us tell you that on November 18, the High Court had ordered to attach the property of Himachal Bhawan on the execution petition of Seli Hydro Electric Company. The government did not return the upfront money to Seli Company. After these orders of the court, there was a stir in the Himachal government.
The opposition also made sharp attacks on the Himachal government regarding this. However, this project was allotted to Seli Company in 2009 during the tenure of the former BJP government.
Seli Company was to set up a 320 MW power project in Lahaul-Spiti. On 14 July 2009, this company deposited 64 crore rupees with the government as upfront money for this. Later, due to several reasons, the project could not be implemented, so the company asked for its upfront money back.
The matter went to arbitration and the decision came in favour of the company. Later, the company filed an execution petition in the High Court against the Energy Department. While giving the decision on this, the court ordered to attach Himachal Bhawan.
Tenders were invited for this project in June 2008. Then the Seli company, which had placed the highest bid, got it. Seli Hydro Power Project was awarded on 28 September 2009. According to the Letter of Award (LOA), the company was required to pay an advance premium of 64 crore rupees, which the company deposited on 14 July 2009.