Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 3

Even as Congress MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu has blamed “faulty” power purchase agreements for the current situation in the state, experts, while backing the leader, accused the PSPCL of failing to assess peak power demand.

They said the state's transmission grid capacity was enhanced temporarily to 7,400 MW. A former chief engineer said just ahead of the paddy season, the PSPCL had claimed to have arranged ample power. “Now, it is blaming the high demand on delayed monsoon. It admitted that Punjab is seeing over 15,000 MW demand. Responsibility must be fixed for large variation in assessing demand,” he said.

VK Gupta, spokesperson, All-India Power Engineers Federation, said, “Sidhu has rightly sought increased solar energy use. The PSPCL owns hundreds of acres which could be used to install solar plants.”

Experts said the PSPCL had paid nearly Rs 20,000 crore as fixed charges to three private thermal plants installed during the SAD-BJP government. “There is no provision in the PPAs for any penalty even if these plants do not supply any power,” said the former chief engineer.

A member of the PSEB Engineers Association said, “Owing to the faulty PPAs, Punjab is short of power during the peak paddy season and surplus for the remaining nine months.”

The PSPCL said legal opinion was being sought on the issue of PPAs. A top official said, “The scenario with improve once it rains. The demand is exceptionally high due to delayed rains, shutdown of a unit and low water level in Bhakra canal.”