As many as 133 of the 172 hydroelectric projects in the state have registered themselves with the Jal Shakti Department for the payment of water cess. This has happened despite the directions of the Central Government to the power producers to challenge the imposition of cess by the Himachal Government
The power companies, which have registered for the water cess, include National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd. Punjab and Haryana as well as the Department of Energy of the Central Government had opposed the imposition of water cess by Himachal.
