Navjot Sidhu bats for 300 units of free power, wants PPAs scrapped

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 4

A day after Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh announced legal recourse to counter the power purchase agreements (PPAs) signed with thermal plants by the SAD-BJP government, Congress MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu today demanded that the pacts be scrapped and 300 units of free power be given to all.

“Let us first get rid of the faulty power agreements through legislation and fix rates as per the national power exchange, with no fixed charges. We must provide 24-hour power to domestic and industrial consumers at Rs 3-5 per unit instead of Rs 10-12 per unit, besides free power up to 300 units,” he tweeted.

Joining the issue, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa said the CM’s move to review PPAs was “extremely delayed, but absolutely necessary”.

While pointing out that the state government had more than four years to sort out the issue, he said a suitable conclusion was still achievable.

Power crisis deepens

• Second unit of Talwandi Sabo thermal plant hits a snag
• Industry will now operate only partially beginning Monday
• PSPCL buys additional 1,100 MW from power exchange
• Residents in semi-urban and rural areas of Majha and Doaba face unscheduled cuts