Power situation continued to remain grim in Punjab amidst coal shortage with the residents facing long power cuts, even as the state power utility — Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) — is buying power at exorbitant rates to cater to power demand of the State’s agriculture sector.
The power scenario can be gauged from the fact that the State’s coal-based plants are operating at 50 per cent capacity. Moreover, State’s all private coal-based plants have less than two days of coal stock, while the State-owned plants have less than four days of coal stock.
“PSPCL has procured 1,500 megawatt (MW) power for today on October 11 (Monday), at the rate of Rs 14.46 per unit, from power exchange especially to cater power demand of agriculture sector,” said PSPCL chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) A Venu Prasad on Monday.
Prasad informed that the critical coal stock position in Punjab is still prevailing as only 12 rakes of coal were received on October 10 (Sunday) against the daily requirement of 22 rakes.
“Presently, all the private coal-based plants in the state have less than two days of coal stock while the state-owned plants have below four days of coal stock. The State situated coal based plants are still operating at 50 per cent capacity,” he said.
Prasad added that PSPCL is heavily procuring power from the market especially to cater to the power demand of the agriculture sector. “PSPCL has met the maximum demand of 8,885 MW of Punjab a day before,” he added.
He said the power supply to the agriculture sector improved considerably on October 10 (Sunday), wherein supply of about six hours was given. The quantum of power cuts on other categories of consumers also remained significantly less, he added.
Prasad hoped that the power availability is likely to improve within the next one to two days as an additional quantum of about 400 MW is expected to be received from state sector and other outside long term sources. One more unit of GGSSTP, Ropar, shall also start generating power from Tuesday.
“Moreover, 50 MW generation from Anandpur Sahib hydel project has also started today (Monday) which will increase to 100 MW shortly,” he added.
Considering the severe shortage of coal, PSPCL has been imposing up to three-hour daily power cuts across all categories of consumers to bridge the gap between demand and supply. It had announced, a day before, that power cuts may continue till Wednesday (October 13).
WON’T LET POWER BLACKOUT TAKE PLACE IN PUNJAB: CHANNI
Amidst looming power crisis triggered by severe coal shortage in Punjab’s thermal power plants, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday said that the State Government will not let a power blackout take place in Punjab. At the same time, he asked the Central Government to ensure an adequate supply of coal at the earliest.
“I have already taken up this issue with the Union Ministry of Coal to ensure requisite supply so as to avert the impending power crisis,” said Channi while assuring that the State Government won’t let Punjab to plunge into darkness despite scarcity of coal. “No intentional power cuts would be imposed,” he said while addressing the media. “Not only Punjab, the entire country is facing the power crisis because of coal shortage,” Channi told reporters, adding that he spoke to the Coal Minister and even had written a letter in this regard.
To a question on fears of a power blackout, Channi said that his Government will not let it happen in the State.
CUTS CAUSING HUGE PRODUCTION LOSSES: INDUSTRY BODY
The Federation of Punjab Small Industries Associations on Monday said that the power cuts are causing huge production losses to the industry while the continuous process industries, like steel or plastic, are failing to run due to failure of continued supplies by PSPCL.
“This is increasing the cost of production and increasing huge unrest in workers as they are forced to sit idle for long hours. The industries are forced to face huge losses under such circumstances. The prices of raw material are also increasing due to these power cuts. Affected by COVID and farm protests, the power cuts may prove as final nail in the coffin of Punjab industries,” said FOPSIA president Badish Jindal.
Jindal said this was the peak time for industries, such as hosiery and bicycle, due to the festival season around the world. “The last season of industries was destroyed due to COVID, and it seems, that now the same will get repeated due to the failure of the Punjab Government,” he said.
“Under such circumstances it is hard to get orders of export or to deal with public sector and large industries. The importers of other countries stopped dealing with industries of Punjab due to uncertainty of supply of material on time,” he added.
Holding the State Government primarily responsible for the power supply in the state, Jindal asked it come up with its solution at the earliest instead of passing the buck to the Centre.
“They must stop freebies for the vote bank and must support the PSPCL in such hard times,” he demanded.
Channi, Modi Govts equally responsible for power crisis: AAP
Blaming the Central and the Punjab Governments for the acute power crisis in Punjab and the country, Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Punjab unit on Monday said that all of this is a ploy by corporate houses to sacrifice the country’s remaining government thermal plants for private companies.
“It is the responsibility of the Union Government to supply coal to the public and private thermal plants in Punjab, but the Modi government has been reluctant to supply coal under a conspiracy. Coal is not being supplied to thermal plants in States including Punjab and Delhi, which has led to the threat of thermal plant shutdowns and power outages in the States,” said AAP’s senior leader and MLA Aman Arora.