Extend session to scrap ‘faulty’ PPAs, says Navjot Singh Sidhu

Chandigarh, August 30

PPCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu today demanded that the one-day special session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha on September 3 should be extended by five to seven days to terminate the “faulty” power purchase agreements (PPAs) with private thermal plants through a legislation.

The cancellation of the PPAs would enable the government to bring down the domestic and industrial power tariff, said the PPCC chief, days after the Punjab Cabinet, led by Capt Amarinder Singh, decided to call a special session of the state Assembly to commemorate the 400th Prakash Purb of Guru Teg Bahadur.

In a video posted today, the Sidhu reiterated the 18-point agenda of the party high command and issues placed before the CM. He said the Punjab Government must immediately issue directions to the PSERC (Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission) in public interest to revise the tariff being paid to private power plants, making the faulty PPAs null and void.

“This will help the Punjab Government give 300 units of free power to all domestic consumers, decrease domestic tariff to Rs 3 per unit and Rs 5 per unit for industry, along with redressal of all outstanding bills, waiving the unjustifiable and exorbitant bills,” he said.

The demand for the extension of the session comes in the wake of the government move to curtail it probably to avoid any untoward situation in case the dissidents seek no-confidence motion against the CM.

Sources said given the continuing tussle between the warring factions, the visit of party’s Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat to Chandigarh tomorrow — two days ahead of the one-day session — is being seen as a move by the high command to mollify the rival factions and avoid any embarrassment to the party on the floor of the House just months ahead of the Assembly elections. Amid the posturing by the rival groups, it is yet to be seen how the situation unfolds in the coming days, said a senior PPCC leader. — TNS