Industry up in arms against PSPCL on hike in charges

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 8

Industrialists here have lambasted Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for proposing an approximately 8 per cent increase in the rate of power.

As the regulatory committee of the PSPCL had asked for suggestions and objections for the hike, the already crippled industry due to Covid has condemned the proposal of the PSPCL.

Levelling allegations against the PSPCL, its officials and staff, Jaswinder Singh Thukral, president, Janta Nagar Small Scale Industries, said, “We are surprised that even after levying heavy power rates, taxes, penalties etc, the PSPCL still remains in losses. Many employees in the department are so corrupt that without greasing their palms, industry cannot get its works done. We are paying them huge amounts, officially and unofficially, still they always propose to hike the power rates. If these are the circumstances, the government should shift power to private players.”

Industrialists rued that they were already paying hefty power bills to the PSPCL compared to other states where electricity is given at much cheaper prices. The power users had to pay the fixed charges too during the lockdown phase, although the Chief Minister had announced that these would be waived off. The state claims to be providing “cheap” power at the rate of Rs 5 per unit, but the industry is already paying anything between Rs 10-12 per unit and still it wants an increase.

All Industries Trade Form president Badish Jindal said the election promise (in manifesto of providing power at Rs 5 per unit) was not fulfilled by the ruling party in the state. Instead of making adjustments in subsidy bills, the government was putting burden in the form of fixed charges, said Jindal.

Thukral said the PSPCL takes the bills in advance from power users, huge penalties are levied if bills are not deposited on time and the connections are cut. Even after imposing strictness at this level, the PSPCL was in losses. The government should give a serious thought to this, he added.

Industrialists allege corruption

Levelling allegations against the PSPCL, its officials and staff, Jaswinder Singh Thukral, president, Janta Nagar Small Scale Industries, said, “We are surprised that even after levying heavy power rates, taxes, penalties etc, the PSPCL still remains in losses. Many employees in the department are corrupt. We are paying them huge amounts, officially and unofficially. If these are the circumstances, the government should shift power to private players.”

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