Sukhbir asks people to be ready for power cuts

Kapurthala, Dec 13 (UNI) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) working President Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the people of Punjab would have to bear the frequent power cuts till the state start generating surplus power.

Talking to mediapersons at Kheeranwali village near here, he said the state could not afford to buy power from the other power generating states at the cost of rupees eight per unit and then supply the same at subsidised rates or rupees two per unit to the public. He said the power crisis was a national problem and the people of Punjab would have to wait for next three years, when the state would become power surplus.

Replying to a query on the proposed move of withdrawing of subsidy on power and other freebies, he said the government had not yet taken any decision on it. He refused to further comment on the issue by saying it was an internal matter of the government and he was not ready to share this information.

He also refused to comment on the issue of imposition of octroi in the State.

Lashing out at the Congress, Mr Badal said state Congress President Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was levelling frivolous charges against the government. He asked Ms Bhattal to point out any false case registered against a Congress leader.

When his attention was drawn towards the haste shown by the state Vigilance Bureau in filling a charge sheet against former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and others in the Ludhiana City Centre scam, the junior Badal quipped, ''I am not aware of the case.'' Commenting on the financial crisis in the state, he said there was no such crisis and the state would be back on the rails as large amount of investments were coming to Punjab. In the power sector alone, over Rs 40,000 crore was being invested in Punjab, he added..

Later Mr Badal laid the foundation stone of widening and strengthening of Kapurthala-Tarn Taran road involving a sum of Rs 54 crore. He also inaugurated the water supply scheme at village Fattudhinga.

Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur and former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur were also present on this occasion.

UNI