Power engineers oppose use of defunct Bathinda thermal plant land for bus stand

Power engineers and sector experts have expressed resentment against the state government’s decision to use the prime land of the now-closed Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) for the construction of an ultra-modern bus stand in Bathinda.

The bus stand will come up on 30 acres of land worth crores of rupees.

Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) will be paid according to the prevailing collector rate of the land and not according to the actual market price, which is very high.

The decision was taken at a meeting on May 12.

Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO could not be contacted for comments over the issue despite repeated attempts.

Ruling AAP spokesperson Neel Garg said such decisions were taken by the government in view of public welfare and “it would benefit everyone”.

Opposing the move, the PSEB Engineers’ Association has urged the Punjab Government to set up a 250 MW solar plant in Bathinda to provide low-cost power instead of using the land for the bus stand.

“The transfer of 30 acres of prime land at lower rates will not benefit the PSPCL, which is already facing a financial crunch. A bus stand will serve only Bathinda and adjoining areas while a power project at the said land may benefit the entire state,” said Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, general secretary of the association.

Power sector expert V K Gupta too stressed the need to review the decision.

“Instead, set up a solar or biomass generation plant at that site, which is more technically feasible and economically viable in view of available infrastructure and site conditions,” he said.

“Also, the power sector land and resources should be reinvested in the power sector, which will benefit more,” he added

Bathinda plant shut in 2017

In December 2017, the Punjab Cabinet had given its go-ahead to the closure of Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) in Bathinda.

The decision was taken in line with the guidelines of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), which mandate the closure of inefficient and economically unviable power plants that are in operation for more than 25 years.

Following the decision, all units of the 460 MW Bathinda was shut down. The first unit of the Bathinda plant was commissioned in 1974.