Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Monday said the issue of coal linkages to thermal plants with tapering supply would be talk of bygone days as this mission of Punjab would accomplished soon with due cooperation from the NDA Government.
Sukhbir, who is also holding power portfolio, said that he is going to call on Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal to present detailed coal needs of the state while the Centre has given its approval for coal supply to Rajpura, Talwandi Sabo and Goindwal Thermal Plants.
“The agenda of the meeting is to get approval for requisite regular and tapering coal supply for thermal plants. Beginning of coal supply will accelerate power projects in the state,” he said.
Taking stock of status of power projects and uninterrupted power supply being received by peasantry, industry and general consumers, Sukhbir asked the Power Secretary to establish state-level helpline — 1912 — to monitor all power related issues of electricity supply till complete satisfaction of consumers from services being provided by the Powercom.
He asked Secretary Power Anirudh Tewari and Powercom chairman-managing director KD Chaudhri to monitor helpline personally so that unsolved, unheard and long pending issues pertaining to power should be resolved with satisfactory solution.
Sukhbir also asked his Principal Secretary PS Aujla to set up “Power Call Center” in his office that will work along with existing 1912 power helpline to call consumers for redressal of their complaints and satisfaction.
Reiterating his commitment to take Punjab on new heights in the area of Power, Sukhbir directed Secretary Power to put Accelerated Power Development Program for System Renovation on fast track with a view to improve transmission and distribution circle in all 47 cities, towns and rural areas.
He also asked for completion of this project within stipulated time frame besides installation of new transformers, where needed. Deputy Chief Minister also directed all chief engineers to submit monthly status report of power projects, transmission and distribution system to him for further speed up the projects.