The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today asked the Punjab State Power Corportation Limited to put the construction of Mukerian Thermal Plant to be constructed by the corporation on fast track as the Union Coal Ministry today allotted it a coal block in Deocha-Pachami in West Bengal with coal reserves of 229 metric tonnes.
Badal, accompanied by Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister, Punjab and Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Revenue Minister, while reviewing the construction works of all thermal plants and power sector projects said that allocation of coal linkage was the basic hindrance coming in the way of Mukerian Thermal Plant and with the allocation of coal block, Powercom should come out with the plan to complete this project in a time bound manner.
Informing about the progress of construction of other Thermal Plants, Mr. Anirudh Tiwari, Secretary Power informed the Deputy CM that the first unit of 2640 MW Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant is all set to be completed by Diwali this year and first unit of Rajpura Thermal Plant would be dedicated to the people of Punjab on December 8, 2013. He said that with the second unit of Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant would be on steam by April 2014 and Rajpura Thermal Plant’s second unit be operational by May 2014.
Expressing satisfaction over timely completion of these two projects, Mr. Badal said that by next summer these two plants alone would supply 3960 MW power to the state making the dream of Punjab power surplus a reality. Stressing upon the need for strengthening power distribution infrastructure, Mr. Badal said that Powercom infrastructure should be fully prepared to handle and distribute surplus power without any hitch. He asked the Powercom to monitor the 8 hour power supply to the agriculture feeders and submit a weekly report to him. Mr. Tiwari informed the Deputy CM that Powercom has installed remote meters on all agriculture feeders and quality and quantity of Power was being regularly monitored. Mr. Badal also asked the department to ensure regular power supply to the domestic sector.
Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Mr. KBS Sidhu, Principal Secretary Irrigation, Mr. Anirudh Tiwari, Secretary Power, Mr. P.S. Aujla, Mr. Ajay Mahajan and Mr. Manvesh Sidhu, all Special Principal Secretaries to Deputy CM.