Power cuts: Industry blames PSPCL for poor planning

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 11

Already unable to cope up with the pathetic condition of power and resultant restrictions, the industry in the state suffered another shock as the power cuts have been extended till July 15.

Surprisingly, three major power plants of the state — Talwani Sabo, Ropar and Lehra Mohabbbat – have developed snag, rendering them either partially or fully non-operational.

Due to the prevailing condition of power, the industry is up in arms against the state government for not being fully prepared in advance, as the steep rise in demand, due to paddy sowing and extreme heat, is not a new phenomenon. The industry stakeholders feel they are facing huge financial losses due to the lapse on part of PSPCL officials. They have even requested the state government to sack senior officials accountable for this “criminal negligence”.

The industry — be it small, micro or mini – is registering protests against PSPCL on daily basis. Some are burning effigies of PSPCL officials concerned while others hold agitations to lodge protest.

All Industries and Trade Forum Associations

Senior members of the association, including Badish Jindal and Narendra Bhamra, said the state government had failed to provide power to the industries, due to which the industry in Ludhiana was facing production losses to the tune of over Rs 20,000 crore. The power shut down had affected 10,000 industries directly and two lakh industries indirectly, they said.

Chamber of Commercial and Industrial Undertaking

Upkar Singh, president, and Pankaj Sharma, general secretary of CICU, said the industry was unable to operate under such circumstances and had suffered huge losses, both tangible and intangible. Production was on standstill and engineering, steel, forgings, casting, and reclamation units were losing orders. “The power board must to be panelised and it should not raise the bill for July and August to compensate industry,” Sharma said.

Janta Nagar Small Scale Industry

Members said earlier, heavy penalty was imposed on them and now these prolonged power cuts had brought the local industry to a standstill. Jaswinder Thukral, president of the industry association, said they were regularly protesting the wrong penalties imposed and now they would further intensify the agitation against power offs. “Why should we suffer because of the faults of PSPCL?” Thukral asked.

United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Assn

DS Chawla, president of the association, said it was a total failure on part of planning by PSPCL officials. “Statistics show that nearly Rs 5,500 crore is to be paid by the state government in subsidy account of power given to the farmers and nearly Rs 2,225 crore is payable by the government departments to PSPCL. These Rs 7,500 crore should have been released to PSPCL to purchase the power and supply should be restored,” Chawla added.

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