Punjab energy deficit: Govt owes PSPCL Rs 11,699 crore thus unable to make well timed funds to buy coal

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: Punjab is at present dealing with a deficit of about 2,000 MW of energy thus there have been extended energy cuts throughout the state and in June and July the state of affairs is prone to worsen. The farmers and others have been protesting throughout the state and at few locations the individuals entered the ability grids. The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) was unable to make well timed funds for the acquisition of coal, because the Punjab Government has not paid Rs 11,699 crore to the company on account of subsidy payments of free energy to farmers and others apart from arrears of presidency departments.

Talking with this newspaper, Ajay Pal Singh Atwal General Secretary of PSEB Engineers Association and Additional Superintending Engineer of PSPCL stated that the affiliation has sought extra coal linkage for personal thermal vegetation (IPPs) together with upgrading of the Ropar thermal energy plant from a sub-critical to
supercritical thermal plant.

The Punjab Government has not paid Rs 11,699 crore to the PSPCL thus it was unable to make well timed funds for the acquisition of coal. The state authorities has not paid the subsidy invoice of Rs 9,020 crore for the 12 months 2021-22 because it provides free energy to the farmers, SC households and others. Also until date Rs. 2,679 crore arrears are attributable to authorities departments similar to workplaces of Deputy Commissioners,
Education Department, Irrigation Department, Punjab Police and others, he stated.

Atwal stated that the state was going by way of an unprecedented and extreme energy disaster due to inadequate provide of coal, shutting down of thermal items throughout the state attributable to technical glitches at this crucial time, non-operationalisation of the Pachhwara coal mine, no improve in energy technology
within the public sector and the closure of the 880 MW of state thermal plant at Bathinda and Ropar.

He stated that from January 1, 2018, eight items of Bathinda and two items of Ropar had been shut down earlier than the time. The unilateral resolution to close down these items with none techno-commercial evaluation has exacerbated the ability disaster in Punjab. It was said that these items had been a burden on the exchequer.
However, the untimely closure of those items has value the state authorities dearly and has not saved a lot cash for the state. The energy disaster might have been prevented if these items had been obtainable at current.

“Punjab is at present dealing with a deficit of about 2000 MW. As a outcome, there have been extended energy cuts throughout the state. During the months of June and July, the state of affairs is prone to worsen,’’ he added.

He stated that the items at TSPL Talwandi Sabo weren’t operational and even throughout
the final summer season season, the plant failed to make sure dependable operations. The affiliation calls for that a direct audit of this plant needs to be carried out to make sure vitality safety in the course of the coming summer season months.

“The PSPCL ought to arrange a 250 MW solar energy technology plant on the vacant land of the Bathinda thermal energy plant this undertaking may be operated at a really low value and in much less time due to the present transmission techniques and substations on the GNDTP web site. This photo voltaic plant may be named after  Guru Nanak Dev.

The PSPCL ought to guarantee early operationalisation of the Pachhwara coal mine and the
coal linkage with IPPs needs to be enhanced maintaining in view the estimated
technology,’’ stated Atwal.