With a coal block being allotted to it, the Mukerian Thermal power plant in Punjab would be on a fast track of construction. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday asked the Punjab State Power Corportation limited to put the construction of Mukerian Plant to be constructed by the corporation on fast track as the Union Coal Ministry has allotted it a coal block in Deocha-Pachami in West Bengal with coal reserves of 229 metric tonnes.
Reviewing the construction works of all thermal plants and power sector projects, Badal said that allocation of coal linkage was the basic hindrance coming in the way of Mukerian Thermal Plant and with the allocation of coal block, Powercom should come out with the plan to complete this project in a time bound manner.
On the progress of construction of other Thermal Plants, Anirudh Tiwari, Secretary Power, informed the Deputy CM that the first unit of 2640 MW Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant is all set to be completed by Diwali this year and first unit of Rajpura Thermal Plant would be dedicated on December 8, this year.
He said that with the second unit of Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant would be on steam by April 2014 and Rajpura Thermal Plant’s second unit be operational by May 2014. Expressing satisfaction over timely completion of these two projects, Badal said that by next summer these two plants alone would supply 3960 MW power to the state making the dream of Punjab power surplus a reality.
Stressing upon the need for strengthening power distribution infrastructure, Badal said that Powercom infrastructure should be fully prepared to handle and distribute surplus power without any hitch. He asked the Powercom to monitor the 8 hour power supply to the agriculture feeders.