AAP blames Union Govt for Punjab power crisis

Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Sunday alleged that the power crisis Punjab faced in the last 4-5 days was the result of the Union Government’s “negative attitude and its policy of depriving the state of its rightful share.”

Dhaliwal further claimed that because of the efforts of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Powercom officials, Punjab completely emerged from this crisis.

Punjab AAP’s chief spokesperson Dhaliwal said the problem had arisen due to technical faults at private thermal power plants in Talwandi Sabo and Nabha, which have now been completely rectified. “Since 6 am on Sunday, uninterrupted electricity has been supplied across Punjab to agricultural, industrial and domestic consumers without any cuts,” he said.  

Punjab’s own power generation has reached 5,300-5,400 megawatts (MW), and all 10 thermal units in the state are functioning smoothly, while the total demand of 15,700 MW is being successfully met, he claimed.
Questioning the BJP Government, the AAP leader said whenever any state faces a technical crisis, it is the Centre’s duty to support it.  

“During such a difficult time, the Union Government abandoned Punjab. The 1,051 MW of electricity that Punjab was to receive from the central pool was stopped. Despite the Punjab power minister and officials repeatedly contacting the Centre and writing letters, they did not assist,” he claimed.

     Taking on the Punjab BJP leaders, Dhaliwal said they are limited to merely indulging in political opportunism and “politics over dead bodies.”  “With what face will the Punjab BJP leadership go among the people to seek votes?” he asked.  

     “The leaders who eat Punjab’s food and drink its water are sitting mute and deaf before the Centre. If they have even a little self-respect, they should raise their voice and get Punjab’s withheld rural development fund and link roads funds, along with its rightful share of electricity, released,” he said.

     Assuring the people of Punjab, farmers and industrialists, Dhaliwal said there is absolutely no need to panic.
     “The state is receiving a continuous supply of coal from its own Pachhwara coal mine. Ropar plant has 30 days’ coal available, Lehra Mohabbat has 11 days, Goindwal Sahib has 16 days, Nabha has 8 days, and Talwandi Sabo has 4 days of coal available,” he said.