Shimla, Sept. 26 -- Cash strapped Himachal Pradesh aiming to make the state self-reliant by 2027 is working to monetise its water resources. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday while speaking to the media on the sidelines of an academic conclave in Solan said, "Water is our wealth and it will make the state self-reliant by 2027." "When we come to power, we will work towards making the state self-reliant. Had the Centre not stopped the revenue deficit grant (RDG) that Himachal Pradesh was entitled for resulting in a loss of approximately Rs.8,000-10,000 crore to the state. We would have become self reliant," said Sukhu. The CM said the state needed about Rs.7,000 crore to become self-reliant and expressed confidence that, through additional revenue streams and economic measures, Himachal could become financially surplus by 2032. "We need Rs.7,000 crore to become self-reliant. We are not saying that we are fighting a battle for Rs.7,000 crore. Once we become a self-reliant state, we will become surplus by 2032," he said. Referring to the Wildflower Hall case, the CM said the state had won the legal battle in the Supreme Court after 23 years. He said the verdict had resulted in Rs.401 crore being credited to the state exchequer and that the hotel was generating approximately Rs.2 crore per month in revenue for the state. The CM also referred to the outstanding Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) dues and said Himachal expected to receive around Rs.500 crore annually following the resolution of the issue. He said Haryana and the Centre had filed affidavits in connection with the Kishau-related agreement, while Punjab had not yet filed its affidavit and the matter remained before the Supreme Court. "BBMB arrears will come to us. The Supreme Court has already passed the decree relating to BBMB, and around Rs.500 crore a year will come to Himachal," Sukhu said. He said the government was also pursuing the long-pending issue concerning the Shanan power project. Sukhu said the state government would not bow before anyone in its fight to safeguard the rights and interests of Himachal Pradesh. Addressing a public meeting at Sarahan in Sirmaur district on Friday on the concluding ceremony of the Vaman Dwadashi Fair, he said the state government had restored the old pension scheme (OPS) in its very first cabinet meeting and that more employees would be brought under the scheme in the future. The CM said despite the financial constraints, the state government was ensuring timely payment of salaries and pensions to its employees and pensioners and was also clearing outstanding arrears. The CM on Friday inaugurated and laid foundation stones of six development projects worth Rs.237.23 crore at Sarahan in Pachhad assembly constituency of Sirmaur district during his one-day visit to the area. He also laid the foundation stone of Rs.203.52 crore Chhailla-Neripul-Yashwant Nagar-Kumarhatti road....