PSPCL lifts ban on load extension for industries

Ludhiana: In a big breather for the industry, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) on Friday lifted the ban on load extension for factories in certain areas, including Jaspal Bangar, Lohara and Bhagwanpura.
The development was an outcome of a meeting between PSPCL, business associations and Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (Glada), on whose orders the ban had been imposed.

But the ban on issuing new connections for the industry in these areas will remain in place temporarily. PSPCL is likely to lift it as well after it gets permission on the same from office of its chairman-cum-managing director (CMD).
Jaswinder Singh Thukral, president, Janta Nagar Small Scale Manufacturers Association, said, “In order to hide its incompetence in acting against illegal colonies, Glada tried to make PSPCL a scapegoat. It forced PSPCL to impose a blanket ban on issuing of new connections and load extension. But thanks to PSPCL chief engineer P S Khamba who not only heard our grievances, but ordered lifting of ban from load extension in the affected areas. He has also assured to lift the ban on issuing of new power connections too after getting an approval of PSPCL CMD.”
D S Chawla, president, United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association, “Glada has no authority to stop PSPCL from issuing new connections or extending load of the existing industrial connections. This is sheer harassment of industry. PSPCL has taken the right step by allowing load extension. We are hopeful that the ban on issuing new connections to the industry in the affected areas will also be lifted soon.”
In the wake of mushrooming of illegal colonies, Glada had issued a letter to PSPCL saying that in areas like Jaspal Bangar, Lohara, Bhagwanpura, new power connections and load extension should not be allowed without getting an NOC from Glada. After this order, a huge number of applications of factories applying for new connections and load extensions were rejected by PSPCL. Businessmen had threatened to start protest against the move. Afterwards, PSPCL chief engineer P S Khamba had called for a tripartite meeting to resolve this issue.