Punjab-Haryana should act as elder brothers to support Himachal’s interests: CM
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SHIMLA 15th September, 2025
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that Himachal Pradesh had to fight for its rightful share on several issues. He noted that despite the expiry of the lease period of Shanan hydroelectric project situated in Himachal Pradesh, it had not been given back to the state from Punjab and arrears due from BBMB had also been delayed due to obstructions posed by Punjab and Haryana, despite a Supreme Court decision.
“Punjab and Haryana are our elder brothers, and they should extend support generously to their younger brother,” the Chief Minister emphasized.
He was speaking at the valedictory session of the two-day national cooperative conference late evening on Sunday at Shimla, where he inaugurated the Cyber Security Operations Centre of Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank, besides launching the bank’s cooperative anthem and releasing a souvenir.
Extending greetings on the successful event, the Chief Minister stated that despite challenging geography and small land holdings, cooperatives in Himachal Pradesh had been playing a crucial role in strengthening the rural economy. He recalled that the cooperative movement in Himachal began in 1904 and received a major boost after full statehood in 1971. Currently, over 5,000 cooperative societies were active in the State, including nearly 2,000 primary agricultural credit societies that provide essential financial services to farmers and rural households.
Responding to a request from Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, he assured that the state government would consider providing relaxations under Section 118 to cooperative societies for purchasing land for business purposes. He also asked the State Cooperative Bank to introduce a one-time settlement policy to help small farmers, orchardists, workers, and traders become debt-free.
Sukhu stated that the state government had dissolved the Board of Kangra Central Cooperative Bank due to irregularities during the previous regime and reaffirmed that it would not tolerate misuse of public resources. He further said that the Congress government was bringing major reforms in education, health and the rural economy sectors.
He said that Himachal had moved from 21st to 5th position in the country’s education rankings in 2025 and was now striving for the top spot. The State had also retained its pride of being fully literate. On health reforms, he said, “Modern equipments are being provided in leading hospitals, with an outlay of Rs 300 crore this year. Robotic surgery has already been introduced in two government health Institutions to offer better treatment to the people of the State.”
He said despite suffering losses of nearly Rs. 20,000 crore due to natural calamities over the past three years, the state had continued to sustain the pace of development. Referring to the safe rescue of 16,000 devotees stranded during the Manimahesh Yatra in Chamba district, he said that the spirit of compassion and service runs deep in Himachal’s culture, with local people ensuring that no stranded pilgrim went without food or assistance.
