New Delhi, July 26
Faced with a worsening power situation, Punjab today sought more allocation from the Central sector projects and an increase in share from the "unallocated" power reserve of the Centre.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today met Union Power Minister P M Sayeed urging him to divert 150 MW power from Rajasthan Atomic Power Station and 7 per cent surrendered share of Jammu and Kashmir in the Nathpa Jhakri project.
The Chief Minister apprised Mr Sayeed of the austerity measures taken by his government to meet the power shortage "caused mainly by monsoon failure."
The Chief Minister said cuts had been imposed on all sections of consumers and the state was finding it difficult to maintain eight hours of uninterrupted power supply to agriculture pump sets.
"We want more allocation. The level of water has gone down in all the dams. The state is purchasing power of about Rs 14 crore a day which is being supplied at half the price to consumers," he said.
Based on the state's need, he sought increase in Punjab's share in the unallocated power reserve of the Central sector projects from 22 per cent to 30 per cent.
The Chief Minister urged the Centre to simplify the procedure of exchange of power under open access from surplus states to deficit states and to do away with the three-day prior notice for allotment of "corridor."
Calling for optimum running of transmission lines between various regions, he said high voltage direct line of Vindhyachal was running at almost one fourth of its capacity.
He said despite austerity measures for conserving power announced by Punjab, including a change in office timings and ban on use of air-conditioners, the state required additional help in order to save the paddy crop.
Capt Amarinder Singh, who was accompanied by officials including PSEB chief Y.S. Ratra, said Mr Sayeed was "sympathetic" to the state's request.
