India, Nov. 6 -- In a major relief to Himachal Pradesh, the Supreme Court on Friday brought the curtain down on a decades-long inter-state energy dispute over the payment of dues arising from Bhakra Beas Management Board projects since 1966, under which the hilly state will get 11,973 MU of electricity from Punjab and Haryana.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana accepted the Centre's cashless proposal on payment of dues in energy terms to Himachal Pradesh by Punjab and Haryana.

The top court said the arrangement will be as per a 2011 apex court verdict settling power dues arising out of Bhakra Nangal and Beas hydro projects since 1966 in favour of Himachal Pradesh at the rate of 7.19 per cent. ...