Navjot Singh Sidhu Who Offered Solution To Electricity Issue In Punjab Owes Over 8 Lakhs To PSPCL

According to the website of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), electricity charges worth Rs.8,67,540 of his Amritsar home are yet to be paid.

Image Source (PTI)

Amritsar: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu who criticized his own party's government in Punjab over the ongoing electricity crisis owes over Rs. 8 lakhs to the state power utility Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) according to their official records.

In a string of tweets, Sidhu offered a 'solution' to the power supply issue stating that there is no need for power cuts if the supply was just regulated. 

According to the website of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), electricity charges worth Rs.8,67,540 of his Amritsar home are yet to be paid, with Friday as the last date for making the payment.

An NDTV report quoted sources that say that Sidhu owed more than Rs. 17 lakh since last year. He paid Rs. 10 lakh in March and now his dues is close to Rs. 9 lakhs.

Sidhu was not available for comments despite repeated attempts, PTI reported. 

As Punjab reels under unscheduled power cuts, Sidhu on Friday sought a law to nullify the power purchase agreements (PPAs) signed during the tenure of the previous SAD-BJP government. Sidhu said there will be no need to go for power cuts or regulate the office timings if the state acts "in the right direction".

The Punjab government on Thursday had reduced timings of government offices and ordered cut down on power supply to high energy-consuming industries as the electricity demand in the state soared to over 14,000 MW a day.

Protests break out in the the state

The opposition SAD on Friday held protests in front of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited offices across the state as it accused the Congress government of withholding eight hours of free electricity supply to farmers, imposing unscheduled power cuts in urban areas, and ordering the closure of industries twice a week. The party demanded an immediate financial package for paddy farmers forced to use diesel generators besides an immediate reduction in value-added tax (VAT) on diesel.

If these corrective measures are not taken along with restoration of regular supply of power to farmers as well as domestic and industrial consumers, the party will gherao the chief minister and ministers in the next phase of its agitation, a party statement said according to PTI.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader, Harsimrat Kaur Badal said "Punjab has drastically fallen under Amarinder Singh & Congress' rule. The state is facing power cuts of 10-12 hrs. They want to save the bill on the subsidies given on electricity. Farmers are forced to destroy their crops, they're on streets". 

Increasing power demand & failing infrastructure 

The electricity demand in Punjab has peaked over 14,000 MW a day, forcing the state-owned power utility PSPCL to impose unscheduled power cuts and regulatory measures on the industry. The Punjab government on Thursday reduced timings of government offices and ordered cut down on power supply to high energy-consuming industries as the electricity demand in the state soared to over 14,000 MW a day. Government offices in Ludhiana, switch off their air conditioners in line with Punjab CM's appeal to make judicious use of electricity. 

Commenting on it, A Venu Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary (Taxation) and Chairman and Managing Director of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, said the failure of private-run thermal plants to provide committed supply during the peak season has resulted in the power shortage situation in the state according to PTI. The delayed monsoon has also caused severe power outages in the state, he told a seminar here, adding that once rainfall comes, the situation would improve.

Work from home and air conditioning demand has also increased significantly in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the official further said.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal joined the protest at Lambi, Fazilka, and Ghubaya and held Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh "solely responsible for the plight of the people". He alleged the chief minister had not conducted a single review meeting of the power utility to ensure adequate supply of power to paddy farmers. He added that this was done deliberately to keep the subsidy bill down. The Congress government does not want to provide free power to farmers and this is the reason why it is not supplying power when it is needed the most, he said.

Badal further said the state government did not make any attempt to ensure timely maintenance of thermal plants which had led to the closure of Lehra Mohabbat plant as well as the closure of one unit of the Talwandi Sabo plant.

Meanwhile, AAP state chief and MP Bhagwant Mann announced that his party would gherao Amarinder Singh's Siswan farmhouse on July 3 to protest the power cuts in the state. He said that on July 3, the people of Punjab would check the electricity metres of the Siswan farmhouse to find out how many hours of power outage was taking place there. The AAP MP added that due to non-availability of electricity from tubewells, farmers were forced to carry paddy in their fields.

#WATCH | Police use water cannons to disperse Aam Aadmi Party workers who are protesting near Punjab CM Amarinder Singh's 'Siswan Farm House', in view of power crisis in the State. pic.twitter.com/RreKmirjzr

— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2021

He alleged due to the power purchase agreement (PPAs) private companies could shut down thermal plants at their own discretion and in case of closure of the thermal plants, the Punjab government would have to pay a fixed charge.