Punjab, today took a giant leap in strengthening the power transmission and distribution system after becoming the first power surplus state across the nation, when Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal today dedicated the first Ring Transmission grid station of the country to the people of Punjab worth Rs 1700 crore.After inaugurating and laying the foundation stones at the cost of Rs 1802.43 crore projects in district Sangrur, Deputy Chief Minister said that after making the Punjab power surplus state, now the state Government has set the mission to strengthen and upgrade the power transmission and distribution (T & D) system for uninterrupted power supply besides exporting it to the adjoining states and neighbouring countries like Pakistan.He disclosed that the power generated by the newly commissioned thermal plants would be inter-connected to this first ring transmission system by the 1620 KM high capacity power lines. Deputy CM further said that Punjab was all set to enhance the power distribution capacity to 7,000 MW from 5,400 MW as more than Rs 2,000 crore was spent in this regard. To facilitate export of power to Pakistan, all power grids in the state have been inter-connected including all power plants and this Ring Grid would paly a vital role in transmission of power. This grid would also be help full in achieving the target to reduce the T & D losses to 15% by the year 2015-16.
Terming it as a big push for the agriculture and industry sector in the state, Mr Badal said that this ring grid would enable the state to grant more than 75,000 tube-well connections in next months. He also announced that applicants who have applied before the year 2007, would be issued tube-well connection within 10 days and farmers having 2.5 acre land could get on the spot connections.Mr Badal has also said that coming agricultural summit at Mohali, would prove to be milestone in the history of the country as it would establish new roads to the crop persification plan in Punjab besides providing technical assistance to the farmers.Promising a paperless business in the state, Deputy Chief Minister announced that from February 13, there would be no need to maintain record registers for traders as all services would be provided online. He also announced that in all assembly constituencies Punjab government would spend Rs 100 crore each in next 2 years.
The Deputy Chief Minister today has initiated development works of worth Rs 1802.43 crore in district Sangrur, which included modernisation of Kanganwal distributory system near Malerkotla, modernisation of power sub-station at power colony Malerkotla, remodelling of Rohira distributory, rehabilitation and relining of Mahorana distributory at Amargarh, upgradation of Sohian power sub-stations at village Sohian and Sunam city.
Meanwhile Rajya Sabha Member Skhdev Singh Dhindsa has thanked the Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal for the unprecedented initiatives taken by them for the overall development of Sangrur district. Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included Chif Parliamentary Secretaries Farzana Alam and Parkash Chand Garg, Iqbal Singh Jhundan MLA, Gurbahchan Singh Bacchi Director Admn and Anurag Aggarwal CMD PSPCL.