Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had written a detailed letter to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal last month in this regard and had discussed the matter with him on another occasion. Total amount payable to Himachal was Rs 28.31 crore and matter had been pending for a long time.

Dhumal said today that his counterpart in Punjab had himself taken the initiative to make payments, in order to help Himachal Pradesh to undertake rehabilitation programme without much delay.

Hailing the release of money, Dhumal has requested the Punjab Chief Minister that other issues agreed to with regard to rehabilitation of the Thein Dam oustees between the two

governments would also be addressed. These issues include provision of employment to each member of about 500 families uprooted due to the construction of the dam.

Dhumal assured that the government would do its best for the rehabilitation of the dam oustees, keeping in view the sacrifices made by them by giving land etc. for the construction of dam.

The Chief Minister said that realising of compensation by the Punjab Government for Thein Dam oustees was another achievenment of his government during the short period of two and half months.