West Punjab Seeks Expertise From Punjab In Power Generation Projects

5 Dariya News

Banawala/Mansa 15-Dec-2013

<p>Mian Shahbaz Sharif accompanied by his delegation, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Punjab Revenue Minister &nbsp;Bikram Singh Majithia today visited Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant Banawala to assess the possibilities of implementing the same model across the border and to make West Punjab power surplus too.Mian Sharif also have a round to the Thermal Plant to gauge the power generation infrastructure and how Western Punjab has become the power surplus state in India. Mian Sharif also got the information about the power scenario of Punjab and vision of Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal to achieve this target. Badal through his detailed power point presentation informed Mian Sharif about future power plans of Punjab. He added that 2 units of 660 MW each would become operational by 2018 at Mukerian Thermal Plant besides increasing generation capacity of existing Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Plant Ropar to 6X800 MW with the replacement of extra modern turbines by 2025.&nbsp;</p><p>The Deputy CM also informed Mian Sharif that Punjab has already a coal mine in Jharkhand while another new captive coal block has been allotted to the state. Mr. Badal said that Punjab has already incurred Rs. 4000 crore to curtail the transmission and distribution (T&amp;D) losses and state ranked 2nd in the country in this regard. He also said that by 2015, the state would be at the top in the country having less than 15% T&amp;D losses with investment of Rs. 13000 crore. Mian Sharif was highly impressed with the various power generation projects and result oriented power vision of Punjab Deputy CM Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal. &nbsp;He sought technical support and expertise from Punjab to replicate the same across the border to make West Punjab-a power surplus state too. Anirudh Tiwari Secretary Power briefed the visiting delegation about the existing power projects and projected outlays in bio-mass, solar power plants, mini and micro hydel power plants and renewable power generation units in the state. Mr Philip Chako Chief Operating Officer and Mr Chetan Shirivastav Associate Vice President Talwandi Sabo Power Limited honoured the Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister. Among others present on the occasion included Mr Balwinder Singh Bhundar MP, Mr. Sikandar Singh Maluka Education Minister, Mr. Sarup Chand Singla Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Prem Mittal &amp; Chitin SIngh Samaon MLAs, Mr Yurinder Singh DIG Bathinda, Mr. Amit Dhaka DC Mansa.</p>