Ill-conceived Badal era PPAs under review: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 3
Facing criticism from within his party as well as the Opposition, Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday said the “ill-conceived” power purchase agreements (PPAs) with private thermal plants signed by the SAD-BJP government were being reviewed and his government would soon announce a legal strategy to counter the PPAs that had burdened the state exchequer.
Legal strategy soon
The government will soon announce a legal strategy to counter the agreements with thermal power plants that have burdened the state exchequer.— Capt Amarinder Singh
The CM, who chaired a meeting to review the power situation in Punjab, later said a “carefully charted legal course of action” was being formulated to save Punjab from further financial losses. Of the 139 PPAs signed during by the SAD-BJP Government, 17 were enough to cater to the state’s power demand, he said, adding that the remaining 122 were “inexplicably” signed. He appealed to the people to use power judiciously and cooperate with the government in overcoming the “temporary” crisis, saying against a supply of 13,500 MW, the demand last week had touched an unprecedented 16,000 MW, propelling the PSPCL to purchase 7,400 MW from outside the state — 1,000 MW more than what was purchased last year.
The CM blamed the present power crisis on the Talwandi Sabo Power Plant that has shut one of its units. A notice has already been issued to the plant. It has been warned of a heavy penalty.
Earlier in the day, the police used a water cannon to disperse AAP workers forcing their way to “gherao” the CM’s residence at Siswan to protest against the frequent power cuts across the state.
