In view of ensuing paddy season, Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Tuesday made it clear that although the country is facing acute power crunch but Punjab Government has made adequate arrangements for power supply and we are trying hard to secure uninterrupted supply for paddy plantation season.Urging farmers to adopt staggered plantation formula suggested by the Punjab Government during meeting with various farmers organisations, the Cabinet Minister said that adoption of this formula will automatically resolved all other issues like shortage of labor and manure besides the power crunch. He said that if farmers have any grudge in this regard then we are ready to constitute a committee for amicable solution.
Suggesting farmers to adopt direct sowing of paddy despite of age old water guzzling practice, he added that if farmers will follow the guidelines of agriculture experts then production will not be affected with direct sowing. He further said that the state government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has already announced 300 unit free power per month to all consumers and this facility will be provided from July 1. He categorically said the employees that corruption wouldn’t be tolerated.The Minister said that during the month of April 2022, the PSPCL has supplied 49,117 LUs (Average Demand 6822 MW) which is 32% more than 37,168 LUs (Average Demand 5162 MW) supplied during April 2021. Similarly, 1802 LUs (Average Demand 8932 MW) have been supplied up to May 9, 2022 in comparison to 1325 LUs (Average Demand 6467 MW) supplied during May-2021 which are 36% more in comparison to last year.
During May-2022, 9441 MW peak demand has been recorded upto May 9, 2022 in comparison to 6791 MW recorded last year.On this occasion, CMD PSPCL Baldev Singh Sran, Baldev Sharma, Director Commercial PSPCL, Paramjit Singh Director Generation, DPS Grewal Director Distribution, Dilraj Singh Sandhawalia Secretary Agriculture, Parampal Kaur Special Secretary Water Supply, Captain Karnail Singh Additional Secretary Revenue, Krantikari Kisan Union President Dr. Darshan Pal, Bharti Kisan Union Lakhowal General Secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal, Bhartya Kisan Union Krantikari State President Surjit Singh Phool, Bhartya Kisan Union Ekta Sidhupur President Jagjit Singh Dalewal and Bhartiya Kisan Union Khosa President Sakhjidar Singh Khosa were present.