Punjab demands 2 central power plants to overcome shortage

New Delhi, Sep 24 (UNI) Unfolding the plans to make Punjab a power surplus from deficit State, State Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal today demanded for setting up of atleast two Central Sector Power Plants of 1,000 MWs each in Punjab to overcome the shortage of power.

Taking part in the deliberations during the meeting of Group of Ministers of various states to discuss power sector issues under the chairmanship of Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde here, on behalf of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the Finance Minister said that presently Punjab had no Central Sector Power Plant and there was an urgent need of such power plants.

He further said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had committed to allot 1500 MWs of power from Lehra Thermal Plant project in Chhattisgarh.

He exhorted the Centre to allot 1,500 MW of additional power to Punjab from its some other projects as this project had been delayed.

Mr Badal urged upon the Central Government to allot 30 per cent power from unallocated power of Central Sector Plans in northern region to Punjab.

He further asked to extend the state's proposal to allot 49 per cent equity partnership in 1,400 MWs Rajasthan Atomic Power projects units 7 and 8.

While demanding Punjab's shares from Banswara Nuclear Power Project being set up in Rajasthan, Mr Badal said the Government should advise the Gas Authority of India to expedite gas connectivity to Punjab through Dadri-Nangal pipeline.

Agreeing on the constitution of Task Force on Hydro Power Development, Mr Badal asked to include Power Minister Punjab as a member of the group to harness hydro-power potential with its neighbouring States.

Referring to the present power generation capacity of 6200 MW against the peak demand of 9,000 MWs, the Finance Minister informed that the State government had drawn a comprehensive programme of 4100 MW power generation through Lehra Mohabbat Phase-II (500 MWs), Goindwal Sahib Thermal Power Project (600 MWs), Talwandi Sabo Thermal Power Project (1,800 MWs) and Nabha Thermal Power Project (1,200 MWs) to meet the shortfall of power in the state.

Likewise, PSEB had also signed long term power purchase agreements of 1,864 MWs and allocated 2,225 MWs of power from five ultra mega power projects, adding Mr Badal said that state government had also proposed two more thermal power projects of 1,000 and 1,200 MWs at Abohar and Rajpura respectively for which Central Electricity Authority was conducting the location feasibility.

These arrangements were, however, not sufficient to meet the increased power demand of the State, which was estimated to be over 11,000 MWs in the year 2012, added Finance Minister.

Mr Badal solicited Centre's liberal support and financial assistance during the 11th Five Year Plan for all its initiatives aimed at accelerated generation capacity addition, reduction in losses, full and effective rural electrification and energy conservation.

UNI