CHANDIGARH: PSEB Engineers’ Association has written to the Chief Minister that the closer the two PSPCL thermal plants will be suicidal for the state of Punjab in the long run, and has sought a meeting to discuss the recommendations for the power sector by Montek Singh Ahluwalia led the expert committee. A S Atwal General Secretary of the Association said that the recommendations of the expert committee are very discouraging and in total disregard to the performance of PSPCL/ PSTCL. Further, there was no expert from the power sector in the committee.
Jasvir Dhiman, President of the Association said that the closure of the state thermal plants will not only raise the tariff but also lead to total blackmail by the private sector IPPs. Moreover, the cost of power from GVK Goinwal Sahib, TSPL Talwandi Sabo and L&T Rajpura has become uneconomical at a rate of Rs.9.54, 6.62, and 5.05 per unit respectively.
With an assured high plant load factor and use of coal from Pachwara Coal Mine, the rate per unit from Ropar and Lehra Mohabbat thermal plants of PSPCL will be significantly lesser.
Association in its letter has pointed out solarisation of all the AP tubewells is not wise economics. To solarise 14 Lac AP tube wells with a connected load of about 13000MW, solar panels having a capacity of 30, 000 MW shall have to be installed at a capital investment of Rs.1.20 Lac crores besides 1.25 Lac acre productive land shall have to be spared by the farmers of Punjab.
In such circumstances, the IPPs of Punjab will become almost non-operational and power share from central sector Projects will have to be surrendered, further burdening the Punjab consumers with additional fixed charges for surrendered power of Rs. 3500 crore per annum resulting in raising the tariff by at least 15%.
