Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday ordered the attachment of Himachal Bhavan, located in Delhi’s Mandi House area, for its failure to pay a dues of Rs 64 crore to a power firm, Seli Hydropower Electrical Company.
Justice Ajay Mohan Goel said that the power firm may take appropriate steps to auction the Himachal Bhavan for the recovery of the increased amount of Rs 150 crore.
The amount of Rs 64 crore increased to Rs 150 crore due to the delay in payment by the state government to the firm with the accumulation of 7 per cent interest from the date of filing of the petition.
High Court ordered for an inquiry to identify officers responsible for lapse
The High Court also directed the principal secretary (Power) to conduct an inquiry to identify the officers responsible for the lapse and sought the report on it within 15 days before the next hearing on December 6.
Case pertains to 340 MW Seli Hydropower Electric Project on the Chenab river
The state government had awarded the 340 MW Seli Hydropower Electric Project on the Chenab river in Lahaul and Spiti district to to Seli Hydro Electric Power Company Limited/Moser Baer, A Letter of Allotment (LOA) was issued by the state government to the firm on February 28, 2009, following which the upfront premium of Rs 64 crore was deposited by the firm.
The said project, however, did not materialise and the Himachal Pradesh government later cancelled the LOA and forfeited the upfront premium paid by the firm.
Arbitrator ruled in favour of the firm
Aggrieved by the action of the state government, the firm challenged the action before an arbitrator, which ruled in the favour of the firm and directed the Himachal Pradesh government to deposit the upfront premium with interest.
The matter reached the High Court after the state government did not comply with the order of the arbitrator.
Advocate General Anup Rattan told news agency PTI that the state government has already filed an appeal against the initial High Court order and the appeal is likely to come up for hearing this month.
