IANS | 06 Jun, 2023
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday urged Union Power
Minister R.K. Singh to provide additional power to the state from the
central pool to meet the heavy demand of electricity owing to the
ensuing paddy season.
In a letter to the Union Power
Minister, Mann said in order to provide uninterrupted supply of power to
the farmers of the state, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited
(PSPCL) is continuously keeping a watch over the power availability.
However,
he said that it has been observed that as of now the availability of
power on the portal is uncertain, for a shorter span and on a day-to-day
basis only.
The Chief Minister said as the demand of electricity
cannot be reliably met through the collective transaction segment of
power exchange, the state is in definite need of firm allocation of
round-the-clock power of 1,000 MW from June 15 to October 15.
He
said this requirement of additional power is further necessitated due to
the recent India Meteorological Department prediction of low monsoon
rainfall in northwestern India, including Punjab.
Mann said in
the national interest of food security the cultivation of paddy crops
must be ensured in a smooth and hassle-free manner.
