New Delhi, Nov. 7 -- The Supreme Court on Friday brought a multi-decade interstate electricity dispute to a close, accepting a cashless settlement framework to implement Himachal Pradesh's entitlement to a 7.19% share of power generated from the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas hydro-electric projects, while directing Punjab and Haryana to supply the state's outstanding energy dues over the next 20 years. Under the framework approved by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Punjab and Haryana will supply Himachal Pradesh approximately 11,973 million units (MU) of electricity over 20 lean seasons, after adjusting the hill state's liability towards its share of the projects' capital cost. The two states will supply approximately 598 MU annually during the lean season, between October and March, in the ratio of 58:42 for the Bhakra-Nangal project and 60:40 for the Beas projects. The court directed Himachal Pradesh to pay the charges determined by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) for the year in which each tranche of electricity is received. Its capital-cost liability has been assessed at Rs.420.77 crore, which will be adjusted against its outstanding energy entitlement by valuing the corresponding electricity at Rs.3.85 per unit. This translates into an adjustment of approximately 1,093 MU from the total arrears of 13,066 MU. The bench, also comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, approved the arrangement evolved through deliberations led by Attorney General R Venkataramani, involving Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, after rejecting Punjab's objections to the proposed computation and the manner of adjustment. The court also issued a stern reminder to the state governments and the Union government that its directions were binding and had to be implemented without reservation....