MP Satnam Singh Sandhu raises demand for Nuclear Power Plant in Patiala to fulfill Punjab’s power demand for clear energy
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh participates in first-of-its-kind ‘Interactive Session on Challenges, Opportunities and The Road Ahead for Punjab’
Babushahi Bureau
Mohali (Punjab) , March 2, 2026 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said the Center will get the feasibility of Nuclear Power Plant in Patiala examined as a part of the process initiated by the Union government for setting up atomic power plants.
The Union Minister said this while participating in a first-of-its-kind “Interactive Session on Challenges, Opportunities And The Road Ahead For Punjab” with intellectuals, academicians, former administrative officers, prominent policy experts, industry representatives and Think Tanks, who have first-hand knowledge of the ground realities, to hold a serious discussion on Punjab’s main issues, challenges and opportunities to chart a transformative roadmap for making Punjab a leading state of the country.
Besides Union Minister State for PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, whose presence indicated seriousness and the concern of Prime Minister’s Office for resolving issues issues of Punjab, the dignitaries from Punjab who graced this Interactive Session included Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Satnam Singh Sandhu, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President Sunil Jakhar, former Special Chief Secretary Punjab, KBS Sidhu, former senior IAS and PCS officers, policy makers related to wide of range of fields including agriculture, economy and industry in Punjab.
After Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Satnam Singh Sandhu raised the issue of proposal, which was made in early 2000, for setting up a nuclear power plant in Darauli in Patiala, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said he would review all the conditions for establishing a nuclear power plant in Patiala. "If it is practically possible, the Union government will explore all options to ensure the establishment of a nuclear power plant in Patiala,” he said.
MP Sandhu earlier said that since the Union government is setting up nuclear power plants in the country, Punjab too needs such a plant to meet its power generation demand which is dependent on coal for thermal plants.
During the discussions held in this first-of-its-kind deliberation, intellectuals, academicians, former administrative officers, prominent policy experts, industrialists, startup founders, art and culture, environmentalists, retired judges, members of the Bar Council and Sikh sect leaders offered strategic insights on addressing Punjab’s key challenges related to agriculture and crop diversification, agriculture enterprise for raising income of farmers and resolving debt problem, water security and pollution, push for industrial renewal and Ease of Doing Business, skill training to enhance employability, eradicating drug menace, accelerating start-ups and AI, encouraging sports and youth development, youth employment, stop brain drain (migration), effective border management and tackle narco-terrorism, strengthen connectivity and logistics capabilities and creating better health and education facilities.
At the end of this Interactive Session, the intellectuals, academicians, former administrative officers, prominent policy experts, industry representatives and Think Tanks unanimously pressed the need of institutionalising this platform with the formation of a Forum to hold such deliberations with the government agencies and representatives on a regular basis to prepare a road-map for Punjab as the vision of the Union government and bring it to reality with short-term catalytic actions, long-term structural reforms and convergence of Union government schemes for unlocking the state’s potential to re-emerge as a top state in the country.
In his address, Union Minister State for PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh said Punjab has been very important to India since its inception. “Punjab's contribution to India's independence and its economic prosperity cannot be overlooked. Punjab has made an incomparable contribution to making India self-reliant. Despite all this, previous governments have not given Punjab its due respect and status, and the division of Punjab was the biggest blunder. But the Modi government is giving due importance to Punjab in developmental works,” .
The Union Minister said under the unjust Indus Water Treaty, share in water of three big rivers Sindhu, Chenab and Jhelum was given to Pakistan. “But the Modi government has rectified this mistake and now Pakistan's share of water is over with the suspension of Indus Waters Treaty. Now Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir have signed new treaty for the Shahpur Kandi dam project to stop excess water from the Ravi river will stop flowing to Pakistan. After five months (when the completion of this project), about 36,000 hectares of land will be irrigated in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from this, was have Ujh Multipurpose Project which will benefit Punjab and J&K in multiple ways. Besides facilitating irrigation to about 90,000 hectares of agricultural land in both States, the project also aims to stop cross-border infiltration and secure BSF establishments during floods,” he said.
The Union Minister said people migrated to foreign countries earlier, because they lacked opportunities in India. “But in past 11 years, the situaiton has changed drastically and people are willing to come back to India because today we are at par with the world as far as technology is concerned and ample opportunities are available in India for the youth,” he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh said with the Ease of Doing Business, today number of startups in the country has gone up from about 400 in 2014 to over 2 lakh.
Sunil Jakhar, Punjab BJP President said, “Punjab has immense capability and integrity among its people. What it lacks today is a decisive and experienced leadership. We must send a firm message that Punjab will not slide into a dangerous gangster–terrorist–drug nexus. This must be curbed right now. Employment is the key to pulling our youth away from drugs and crime. Punjab has the strength to correct its course provided the right movement begins at the right time,”.
Participating in the discussions, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a special relationship with Punjab. The Union government has given high priority to state’s development over the last 11 years under the visionary leadership of PM Modi. Punjab and its people have been strengthened in the field of education and health with establishment of world-class institutions like IIM at Guru Nagari Amritsar, AIIMS in Bathinda and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital in Mohali. In addition to this, he has increased the capacity of airports in Punjab and now four domestic and two international airports are operational in the state. A few days ago, the Prime Minister has given a great honour to the sentiments of the Punjabis by naming Adampur Airport in Punjab after Sri Guru Ravidas Ji. The Union Government has allocated a record Rs 5,673 crore for railway infrastructure in Punjab which is 25 times higher than UPA government allocations, introduced three Vande Bharat trains from Ferozepur, Amritsar and Nangal, achieved 100 percent electrification and is currently executing projects worth Rs 26,382 crore across the state.”
Sandhu further said PM Modi has also taken historic steps for the preservation of Sikh culture and heritage and promotion of values and teachings of the revered Sikh Gurus.