Even though many parts of the State are still facing unscheduled power cuts, Punjab Government is not only set to make the State power surplus, but also, on Friday gave its go-ahead to set up a 'power trading company' to sell the "surplus power" to other States.
The State Government is banking on its several upcoming projects of thermal power plants to generate power that would be excess to the demand of the State.
Giving its nod, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has authorised the Punjab State Power Corporation limited (Powercom/PSPCl) to set up a separate power trading company for the purpose.
The decision was taken in a meeting with whole-time director of larsen and Toubro SN Roy, who called on Badal to update him regarding the status of Rajpura Thermal Plant at his official residence.
Badal, during the meeting, directed the PSPCl chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) KD Chaudhuri to work out modalities for establishing power-trading company so that it could be in place positively by the end of September.
Apprising Badal that he had already done desired homework in consultation with Principal Secretary Power Anirudh Tiwari, Chaudhuri assured the Chief Minister to meet the deadline for setting up of power trading company as it was a highly professionalised and technical task. And, it is to be undertaken with due care and deliberation by hiring the services of financial experts and technocrats.
Taking part in deliberations, Roy apprised Badal that he had personally monitored progress of the Rajpura thermal plant, a day before, and was fully satisfied with the pace of civil works being executed there. He added that the plant would be made operational by December 2013.
Roy also envisaged Badal's personal intervention asking the Centre to ensure coal supply from Pachwara block or permit them to import coal in order to supply cost effective power to the consumers.
Responding to the issue raised by Roy, Badal reiterated that he would soon take up the matter with the Union Ministry of Coal to ensure uninterrupted power generation at the plant.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister asked him to approach the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) to seek the approval for differential coal supply of 25-30 per cent as it had already permitted l&T to utilised 15 per cent imported coal being supplied from Coal India limited. Badal also asked him to further explore other options for importing coal to ensure timely power generation.