Allaying the fears regarding shortage of power in the State,Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Power Minister Punjab said that the farmers would get regular power supply during the paddy plantation season. Assuring the farmers, the Minister said that the department is fully alive to the paddy season requirement and adequate arrangements have been made for the same.Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is prepared to meet the exigencies and to ensure an eight-hour uninterrupted power supply to the farmers every day, said he after a meeting held to review the arrangements made to meet the escalated demand in view of paddy plantation commencing on June 20. Er. Baldev Singh Sran, CMD PSPCL, Mr. A.Venu Parsad Principal Secretary, Mr.RV Pandove Director Administration and other officers of the department were present on the occasion.Mr. Kangar said that Punjab is an agrarian state wherein the power load during peak summer and the paddy season comes to an all time high. The maximum demand recorded last year is 11705 MW in July, which was a challenge to meet, but has been successfully met by arranging power from all the available sources optimally. In the year 2018, maximum demand of 12290 MW per day is anticipated.
Detailing the power arrangement scenario for paddy plantation season, Mr. Kangar said that various arrangements have been made to meet this year’s demand including 700 MW Hydro, 1510 MW thermal, 4567 MW from share in Central pool, 3187 MW from Talwandi Sabo, Nabha power and Goindwal sahib power plants, 150MW from Peda/Co gen/Bio mass, 669 MW Solar, 1990 MW Banking Arrangements and 300 MW Purchase of Renewable Energy (RE ) from Himachal. The Renewable Energy(RE power) purchase is done to meet renewable power obligations under green power.The power arrangement has been strengthened with a robust complaint redressal system, informed PoM. During summer season and in the paddy plantation period as the peak demand of electricity skyrockets so do supply related complaints. PSPCL has a well established customer care system in place reachable on a single number (1912) all across the state. Besides, 98 Nodal Complaint Centres have been established to monitor resolution of complaints to the satisfaction of consumers and five zonal control rooms in all zones across the State coupled with one at head office level has also been established.
Earlier, Mr. Kangar met representatives of officers association, office bearers of PSEB Employees Joint Forum, Mulazam Ekta Manch Punjab and other employee unions. The associations flagged various issues including pay scale anomalies, promotions, compensation to contractual employees who die on duty and reopening of the recently closed units of Thermal plants. The minister gave a patient hearing to all and assured early resolution of the issues. He promised to raise to Chief Minister Punjab the concern of the employee unions pertaining to feasibility of running all the units of Bathinda and Ropar thermal plants.Later, talking to media, the Minister cautioned the farmers against the people with vested interests who are playing with their sentiments and are inciting them towards demonstrations seeking sixteen hour power supply. The minister said that he being from an agrarian background can vouch by personal experience that eight hours regular power supply is sufficient for paddy plantation.