Punjab to get additional power from Central quota: Shinde

Chandigarh, May 4 (UNI) In a major relief initiative to combat the on-going power crisis, Punjab will get 395 MWs of additional power from May to September from the un-allotted Central quota.

This was announced by Union Minister for Power Sushil Kumar Shinde after a meeting with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in New Delhi today.

Punjab would also get 500 MWs of power from the 4000 MWs Lara Thermal Power Project in Chhattisgarh which is likely to be completed next year. Mr Badal requested Mr Shinde to allocate the committed 1500 MWs through any on-going NTPC project. The union minister assured the chief minister that the proposal would be considered on a priority basis.

On the rural electrification scheme, Mr Shinde said the Centre would extend the benefit of this scheme to equip rural households in Punjab with domestic power supply. A proposal to this effect should be sent by Punjab State Electricity Board to Rural Electrification Corporation, the minister told the CM.

This scheme would primarily benefit the economically weaker segments of the rural population. An estimated 10 per cent of rural households were still un-electrified in Punjab.

Referring to the optimal utilisation of bio-mass for power generation, Mr Shinde urged the Chief Minister to explore the possibility of using German technology to generate power from bio-mass as the state had abundant stock in the form of paddy husk and cotton sticks.

On the issue of setting up of mini hydel projects with a power potential of 64 MW at different locations on Bhakra Main Line (BML), the Union Minister assured the Chief Minister of resolving this issue at the earliest. He said that he would convene a joint meeting of the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan at Chandigarh in the first week of June to sort out this issue amicably besides.

Mr Shinde also assured that the on-going Lehra Mohabat Phase-2 Thermal Plant would be completed positively by June 30 this year.

Mr Badal also opposed the Gadgill formula for the allocation of power from New Central Sector stations, as this system does not take into account the extent of power deficit faced by a particular state. He suggested to revise the formula/criteria for allocation of power to Punjab from New Central Sector projects.

UNI