Ensure 8-hour supply to Punjab farmers, powercom told

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 25

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today directed the PSPCL to ensure eight hours of uninterrupted power supply to farmers and purchase deficient power from outside the state to prevent any disruptions in the ongoing sowing season.

Buy deficient electricity: Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh

• The Chief Minister has asked PSPCL to buy deficient electricity from outside the state, if required
• He also asked Finance Dept to release Rs500 crore to PSPCL to tide over financial crunch

Chairing a meeting to review power supply to farmers during the kharif season, the CM directed the Finance Department to release Rs 500 crore to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to tide over the financial crunch faced amid the pandemic.

Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said his department would release the funds without delay.

Earlier, the PSPCL said it was facing a severe financial crunch as a result of slowdown in consumption and revenue collection over the past one year due to the pandemic.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to providing eight-hour continuous supply to farmers during the sowing season, the CM directed the PSPCL to purchase deficient power, if needed, from outside to meet the government’s commitment. “There should be no disruption of power supply to farmers,” he asserted.