Election Commission appoints 15 expenditure observers in Punjab
Jalandhar, Power consumers in the state are still waiting for a round-the-clock power supply. Though the state government is yet to fulfill it’s promise of turning Punjab into a power-surplus state, it cannot be denied that there has been some improvement in the power sector. The government steps to augment power generation may eventually make the state self-reliant.
So far, of the six thermal plants, only the 1,400 MW Rajpura plant, the 540-MW Goindwal Sahib plant and the 1,980 MW Talwandi Sabo plant have been commissioned so far.
The Goindwal Sahib and Talwandi Sabo plants are not fully operational because of poor availability of coal. Work has yet to begin on the 1,320 MW Gobindpura plant, the 2,640 MW Gidderbaha plant and the 1,320 MW Kot Shamir plant. If the three private plants at Rajpura, Goindwal Sahib and Talwandi Sabo become fully operational, 11,623 MW of power will be available in Punjab. The power demand recorded during the peak summer period in 2012 stood at 11,520 MW.
Poor fiscal health
The power corporation continues to face a fund crunch. When the Punjab State Electricity Baord was unbundled, the debt stood at Rs 13,011 crore. This has risen to Rs 19,769 crore (as on March 31, 2014). All losses were taken over by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), affecting its borrowing limit in the market.
The PSPCL decision to collect advance consumption deposit from the consumers reflects its poor monetary condition.
A weak monsoon coupled with coal scarcity affected power supply this summer, explained PSPCL chairman-cum-managing director KD Chaudhri. On the fiscal front, he said the power utility had started showing profits.
“We have been able to reduce transmission and distribution losses besides strengthening the transmission network,” he said.
Minister Speak
Punjab is, indeed, a power-surplus state. We have augmented the power generation capacity considerably. All thermal plants have not been operational because of the coal crisis in the country. In a month or so, Punjab will be selling 3,000 MW of power to other states.
Sukhbir Badal, deputy cm, who holds power portfolio
Power supply during the Congress regime was far better than it has been during the SAD-BJP tenure. We purchased power from outside but did not pass on the burden to consumers. Not only has this government failed to provide adequate power, but has raised tariff too.
Capt Amarinder Singh, ex-cm who held power portfolio
What experts say
There is no thrust on increasing generation capacity, thereby burdening the PSPCL with long-term power purchase at high rates. The debt is increasing and so is the interest. Financial restructuring alone will improve matters.
Padamjit Singh, AIPEF
Setting up thermal projects through private players has proved detrimental. The PSPCL has to buy costly power from private plants. Punjab must construct at least two thermal plants in the state sector.
Baldev Singh Sran, PSEB ENGINEERS’ ASSN
A weak monsoon coupled with the problem of coal scarcity affected power supply this summer.
KD Chaudhri, MD, PSPCL
Unkept promises
* Making Punjab power surplus with all categories of consumers getting power round-the-clock supply
Thermal plants have been set up at Rajpura, Goindwal Sahib and Talwandi Sabo. However, the proposed Gobindpura, Gidderbaha and Kot Shamir plants are unlikely to come up. Punjab is yet to provide uninterrupted power supply to consumers
*Once power surplus, power tariff will be slashed
Power tariff continues to be hiked. In addition to the bi-monthly bill, advance consumption deposit on all categories of consumers levied
*A 1,320-MW thermal power plant in the state sector promised at Mukerian in Hoshiarpur
Despite the announcement, nothing concrete has been done in the past two years in this direction
*Steps to improve the fiscal health of the cash-strapped state power corporation
Financial restructuring not undertaken. Debt burden has increased from Rs 13,011 crore to Rs 19,769 crore
*A minimum of eight-hour power supply to farmersduring the peak paddy season
Farmers supplied power for only 5-6 hours every day
Rising debt
On March 31, 2011 Rs 18,606 cr
On March 31, 2012 Rs 18,957 cr
On March 31, 2013 Rs 19,795 cr
On March 31, 2014 Rs 19,769 cr
Tardy turnabout
2010-11 Rs 1,639 cr (deficit)
2011-12 Rs 537 cr (deficit)
2012-13 Rs 260 cr (profit)
2013-14 Rs 300 cr (profit)
