Punjab facing shortage of power: Amarinder Singh

Jalandhar, June 3 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today said the state was currently facing shortage of power and required about 7,200 MW to overcome this deficit.

Mr Singh said 5,700 MW power was available in the state at present and ''the government is doing its best to overcome this crisis, it has even bought power at higher rates from outside.'' He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Punjab Press Club here.

The state Chief Minister said efforts were being made to import power from Bhutan. Besides, power was also being purchased from Kerala, Rajasthan and other states and agencies like National Power Grid.

The demand for power in the state had recorded a rise of 30 per cent as electricity to rural areas was being supplied on urban pattern, he said.

With the flow of industrial investment in the state, augmentation of power availability had become the government's duty, he added.

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