New PSPCL CMD vouches for cheap, uninterrupted power supply in Punjab

Tribune News Service

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Patiala, December 24

Soon after resuming charge as the chairman-cum-managing director of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), Baldev Singh Sran said that he would work hard to provide cheaper and uninterrupted power to the people of the state.

When Sran was reminded of the coal crisis, he said, “We have our own coal mine at the Pachhwara block in Jharkhand, and we can get cheaper and better-quality coal from there – to generate power. By operationalising this coal mine – which was not operating for long – Punjab can save around Rs 600 crore to Rs 700 crore annually. Consequently, the cost of power will be reduced and the consumers will get benefits thereof,” the new CMD said.

The Supreme Court, in September this year had paved the way to re-operationalise the Pachhwara coal mine which can help save at least Rs 20p-30p per unit.

He said that bringing in cheaper coal from Pachhwara was one of the priority areas he would work on.

In the face of upcoming paddy season and the inability of Coal India Limited to meet the demand of the states, the re-operationalisation of the Pachhwara coal mines would be a boon to Punjab, say experts.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa, who was present on the occasion, commenting on the cancellation of the power purchase agreements with the three IPPs, said the government had already made up its mind to take over one of the thermal plants, and passed a bill to renegotiate power tariffs with other two private thermal and several solar IPPs. The minister claimed that Punjab would once again be made power surplus.

‘Disheartened over demand of choice postings’ 

Meanwhile, CMD Sran said that he was disheartened over the demands of the officers for choice postings. He said that many officers had already started to press him for postings of their choice even before he joined the office. “The same eagerness – as shown by some officers to get the postings of their choice – is not visible in the functioning of the department for solving issues of consumers. Our department is already notorious for corruption; therefore, we should work honestly to improve its image.”