Punjab Newspaper

Punjab will get 395 MWs of additional power from May to September from the un-allotted Central quota that constitutes 25% of the un-allotted power.
This was announced by Union Minister for Power Mr.Sushil Kumar Shinde after a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal at Sharam Shakti Bhawan here today.
Punjab would also get 500 MWs of power from the 4000 MWs from the Lara Thermal Power Project in Chhattisgarh which is likely to be completed next year. Mr.Badal asked Mr.Shinde to allocate the committed 1500 MWs through any on-going NTPC project. Mr.Shinde assured Mr.Badal that the proposal would be considered on a priority basis.
On the scheme of rural electrification, Mr.Shinde said that the Centre would extend the benefit of this scheme to equip the rural households in Punjab with domestic power supply. A proposal to this effect would be sent by Punjab State Electricity Board to Rural Electrification Corporation. This scheme would primarily benefit the economically weaker segments of the rural population. An estimated 10% of rural households were still un-electrified in the state.
Referring to the optimal utilization of bio-mass for the power generation, Mr.Shinde urged the Chief Minister to explore the possibility of using German technology to generate power from bio-mass as the state had its abundant stock in the form of paddy husk and cotton sticks.
On the issue of setting up of mini hydel projects with a power potential of 64 MW at different locations on Bhakra Main Line (BML), Mr.Shinde assured the Chief Minister of resolving this issue at the earliest. He said that he would convene a joint meeting of the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan at Chandigarh in the first week of June to sort out this issue amicably besides, monitoring the overall power scenario in the state. Mr.Shinde also promised that the on-going Lehra Mohabat Phase-2 Thermal Plant would be completed positively by 30th June, 2007.
Mr. Badal also opposed the Gadgill formula for the allocation of power from New Central Sector stations which did not take into account the extent of power deficit faced by a particular state. He suggested to revise the formula/criteria for allocation of power to Punjab from New Central Sector projects. He pleaded that Punjab should be given at least 20% power from these projects.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, his Media Adviser Harcharan Bains, Principal Secretary DS Guru and Principal Resident Commissioner Anjuli Chibb Duggal