Review PPAs, rein in transport, sand mafias: Cong MPs to Punjab CM

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 29

Joining the chorus on faulty power purchase agreements (PPAs) signed during the SAD-BJP’s regime, PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar and party MPs Partap Bajwa, Manish Tewari, Gurjeet Aujla and Shamsher Singh Dullo today stressed upon the need to renegotiate the agreements to bring down the power tariff.

They asked Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to bring a “white paper” on the issue and take action against the officials who were instrumental in drafting the pacts. Bajwa and Jakhar also sought an explanation from the officials concerned regarding the adverse verdict in the case where private companies had demanded coal washing charges even as the state had “won the case in subordinate courts”. In an apparent reference to the office of Advocate General, Jakhar and Bajwa sought replacement of the lawyers in light of the adverse apex court judgment in coal washing charge case. Tewari, however, spoke in favour of the AG office.

The matter came up during a meeting convened by the Chief Minister to discuss budget proposals for the next fiscal and nearly 34 issues pending with the Centre.

For a change, the ongoing war of words between Capt Amarinder and Bajwa was not visible in the meeting that saw discussion on various state issues, followed by lunch hosted by the CM.

Six Lok Sabha MPs Dr Amar Singh, Jasbir Singh Gill, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, Preneet Kaur, Manish Tewari, Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Mohd Sadiq and two Rajya Sabha MPs Partap Singh Bajwa and Shamsher Singh Dullo attended the meeting. Though invited, MPs from other parties did not turn up. Jakhar, Bajwa and Tewari questioned the government on rampant illegal sand mining in the state. As Bajwa and Jakhar sought a reply over the unabated mining, Tewari raised the question of ongoing sand mining without environmental clearance. He said it was not only causing loss to the state exchequer, but also harming the environment.

Questioning the “failure” of the government in checking the transport mafia, Bajwa said as compared to the state transport undertaking, the transport business of the Badals grew leaps and bounds in the last three years. Besides, the issue of rampant liquor smuggling from neighbouring states was also flagged.

Briefing to MPs

• Foodgrain stock: Press the Centre for immediate movement of Central pool’s foodgrain from the state in view of the threat to the quality of stored wheat due to heavy rains and floods in several parts of state.
• SYL canal: The MPs were asked to push for an amendment to provison of Section 12 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill 2019, to protect Punjab’s water resources.
• Cash credit a/c: Aggressively pursue the pending issue of settlement of food cash credit account of Punjab to the tune of Rs 31,000 crore.
• PGI centre: Push for expediting the establishment of PGI satellite centre in Ferozepur, and sanctioning of a second AIIMS in Punjab.
• SGPC polls: Take up in Parliament the issue of delayed SGPC elections to break the stranglehold of the Akalis on the religious body.