Nuke plant in Punjab a priority issue for SAD-BJP Govt

Muktsar, Apr 3 (UNI) One of the top priority fo the SAD-BJP government would be to get the sanction for nuclear power plant in Punjab to overcome the shortage of about 3000 MW power crisis, state finance and planning minister Manpreet Singh Badal today said.

To install a nuclear power plant in the state was the only alternative to meet the demand for power that has increased manifold, he said at a press conference here.

In reply to questions, Mr Badal said that the SAD-BJP government disagreed with previous Congress government's opposition to the nuclear power plant in the state over risk to dense population and national security.

''If the same can be installed in Fatehabad district of Hisar in neighbouring Haryana, then why not in Punjab,'' the finance minister asked.

At present Punjab had only one 500 MW power project at Lehra Mohabbat, which is nearing completion and is taking up two others at Goindwal Sahib and Talwandi Sabo, he said adding that the proposal of 1000MW nuclear power plant in Punjab needed to be revived.

Mr Badal, in reply to another query, said the government was taking all necessary steps for the launching of subsidised atta dal scheme to the poor and Below Poverty Line from May 15 and state government had already released a sum of Rs 374 crore.

The survey of families earning below Rs 30,000 had already been started.

Mr Badal said the state government had received World Bank financial assistance of Rs 2400 crore for potable drinking water supply facilities and road infrastructure.

A sum of Rs 34 crore had been released for eradication of water logging in Muktsar district, he said.

UNI