Punjab Power Sector achieved new milestones in two years of Mann Govt....by Manmohan Singh

Chandigarh: It was on this day 2 years ago that the Punjab government implemented several new schemes and plans for the well-being of citizens of Punjab in the Power, Education, Health, Trade & Industry, Employment, Anti-Corruption, Sports, Cultural, etc. sectors. There are visible outcomes of the various pro-people initiatives executed for the common man by the state government.

 Power sector:    

 On the power front, state power companies, PSPCL & PSTCL are providing reliable and uninterrupted power to more than one crore power consumers and also performing a fundamental role in the prosperity of the Punjab.

PSTCL is looking after the transmission of electricity in the state, which plays a major role in the power scenario. With efficient and visionary engineers, PSTCL has enhanced Transmission Capacity (ATCLimit )from 7100 MW to 9000 MW to import power from outside the state. 

With the outstanding performance of Punjab’s power companies, the power sector of Punjab has achieved new milestones, while extending various facilities. Purchase of 540 MW private thermal by Punjab Govt., and schemes to the consumers like free power, OTS, VDS, uninterrupted power to consumers during summer and paddy seasons, Operationalization of Pachhwara Coal Mine, Industry friendly measures, Recruitment, RDSS scheme, efforts for additional solar and hydel energy etc.                            

Free Power to Domestic Consumers: Electricity is an integral part in the life of the common man and if a state Government manages to provide free power to domestic consumers, then it ensures great relief to the prosperity of the common man. 

After Delhi, Punjab is the second state of the nation, where the facility of free electricity 600 units for two months/ 300 units per month is being provided to all domestic consumers in Punjab since July 1, 2022.In the past 18 months, nearly 83% to 90% of the domestic consumers of Punjab are getting zero electricity bills as per their billing cycle.                 

 Highest-ever peak demand: 

Punjab has met its all-time highest eve peak demand of 5,325 MW on June 23, 2023, against14,311 MW on June 29,2022whichis7% higher in comparison to the same period in the year 2022.Overallarecord3427 lacs of units of power demand on September 9, 2023 in comparison to 3345LUs of power during the year 2022 on June 29.

Consumers during the years 2022 and 2023 without imposing any power cut on domestic, commercial, Industrial &other consumers.

 Operationalization of Pachhwara Coal Min :

PSPCL has successfully managed to over come the challenges in starting operations at Pachhwara Central Coal Mine, which was closed for the past7 years and despatch of coal to PSPCL thermal power stations started in Dec 2022.

Till date about 40 Lac Metric Tonne coal has been supplied to PSPCL thermal power stations. Sufficient stock of about 30days of coal is available a tGuru Gobind Singh Super thermal,Ropar and Guru Hargoind Thermal Plant LehraMohabbat. 

   Purchase of 540 MW private thermal by Punjab Govt:

                       Punjab government had written a new success story by purchasing GVK thermal power plant, Goindwal (earlier owned by Private company ) at a cost of Rs 1080 crore and the plant was renamed as Guru Amar Dass Thermal Plant.

 For the first time a reverse trend was witnessed in Punjab as the government purchased a private power plant whereas in the past the governments sell government properties at very low price.

Punjab Government has purchased this thermal power plant at the cheapest rate ever purchased by any state/private company as other power plants like Korba West, Jhabua Power and Lanco Amarkantak with generation capacity 600 MW have been purchased at Rs 1804 crore, Rs 1910 crore and Rs 1818 crore respectively.

It is learned that the available capacity of this thermal power plant is 61% whereas this plant was used only upto 34% capacity but now this thermal plant will be run at PLF of 75-80% thereby increasing the power generation in the Punjab. 

As coal from Pachhwara coal mine, allotted to Punjab, can be used only for government owned thermal power plants so with purchase of this power plant coal from Pachhwara coal mine can be properly utilized for generation power for the state.

 This purchase will facilitate in reduction in overall Tariff by over Rs. 1 per unit and it will lead to savings of Rs. 300- 350 crores on power purchase thereby benefiting the consumers of the Punjab.

This power plant will also help in more power generation due to the availability of coal from Pachhwara Coal Mine as the Plant Load Factor is likely to go up to 75 to 80% against average Plant Load Factor 34% in trailing year so far. The operationalization of this plant will also open new Employment opportunities for the youth of the State of Punjab thereby making them an equal partner in the growth and prosperity of the state.

 Efforts for additional and Green Hydel Energy: All out efforts are being made to meet the rising power demand in the Punjab, PSPCL has signed two power purchase agreements for solar power to meet the power needs of the state, it is informed that these were the biggest such agreements in the country. 

The two agreements were signed by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited with SJVN Greens Energy Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary company of SJVN Limited, on August 14, 2023, for the supply of 1,200 MW of solar power from the latter’s two projects in Bikaner (Rajasthan) and Bhuj (Gujarat). 

PSPCL had floated tenders for procurement of power from solar projects located in Punjab and anywhere else across the country.SJVN Green Energy Limited proposed Rs.2.53 per unit from 1,000 MW in Bikaner (Rajasthan) and Bhuj (Gujarat), and Rs.2.75 per unit from 200 MW at Hoshiarpur (Punjab).

Since April 2022, procurement of 2804 MW solar power has been tied up at a per unit rate of Rs. 2.33 to Rs.2.76. Shahpurkandi Power Project of 206 MW capacity is being constructed on Ravi River.

A dedicated cell - Industrial Facility Cell:

Efforts made for additional prioritize and modernize services for the industrial sector, PSPCL has launched a dedicated cell - Industrial Facility Cell (IFC) during 2023 year, which is being monitored by the office of the Chairman cum Managing Director of PSPCL.

 A dedicated helpline WhatsApp number 9646119141 and an e.mail address industrial-cell@pspcl.in have been launched under this initiative. Industrialists of the Punjab can easily register their complaints through this WhatsApp number or email, and these complaints are being dealt with on a priority basis by giving immediate attention.

Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme :

With an aim to provide 24x7 reliable power, the Punjab Government has approved an action plan of Rs. 9641 Cr. to improve the quality and reliability of power supply to the consumers. 

Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) is an ambitious flagship scheme aimed at improving the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of the distribution companies through a robust and sustainable distribution network.         

 Under RDSS scheme various infrastructure works like commissioning of 40no new 66 KV sub stations and installation and augmentation of 140 Nos 66/ 11 KV power transformers respectively shall be carried out. 

Besides this, 2,015 circuit kilometers of 66 KV transmission lines shall be erected under this scheme for system strengthening and its modernization along with installation of 23,687 11KV distribution transformers and erection of 15,859 circuit kilometres of HT/LT lines.

During the year 2022,a voluntary disclosure scheme launched, in which 1.96 lac agriculture consumers have enhanced their around 8 lac BHP load of their tube well motors and saved Rs. 180 crores.

Recruitment:

                          During the last 2 years, PSPCL & PSTCL has successfully recruited 4575 eligible candidates of different categories which includes 737 jobs on compassionate grounds on regular basis.PSTCL was the first department of the Punjab govt. 

                            Though the Punjab Government’s idea of bringing ease to the common man’s life is highly appreciable, at the same time, it should not only emphasize on generating jobs in government, public sector and private institutions but also ensure decent wages. A major reason behind mass migration of Punjabis abroad is the lack of quality jobs, poor wages & rise of the private sector, which does not give job security to employees.

 It is disappointing to see Punjabis moving abroad, working & performing better there than in their own state which is culturally, historically & religiously strong. The Punjab Government should take this challenge head-on and set a benchmark by providing the best opportunities to youth in their own state. A large section of Punjabis are moving abroad purely for economic reasons & the government needs to focus on Punjab’s economy too.

March 17, 2024