More wait for ind units to get new power connections

Ludhiana: In a setback for the new and existing power intensive industries located in Focal Point, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has failed to provide new connections and load extensions for such units for past several months.
The problem is severe mostly for those units that want power connections of more than 500 KVA.
Elaborating about the problem, K K Garg, president of Induction Furnace Association of North India, said, “For past almost an year, the new factories coming up in Focal Point area, especially in and near Phase 7, that require more than 500 KV power connections are unable to get the connections from PSPCL. Moreover, the existing units which have loads of 500 KVA and above who have applied for load extension are also not able to get their applications processed. In total, there about 50 units which have either applied for new connection or have delayed their plans to commence productions due to this problem. There is almost equal number of existing units from sectors like furnace, dyeing etc which want load extension, but have not got the approval from PSPCL.”
Businessmen have urged the PSPCL to take corrective measures at the earliest to normalise the situation or else those affected due to this problem will face very serious consequences. “Losses are mounting with each passing day for units which are unable to commence production. If no solution is found soon, some of these units might consider scrapping their projects,” said Narinder Bhamra, president of Fastener Manufacturers Association of India.
S R Vashishat, chief engineer, PSPCL (Central Zone) Ludhiana, said, “At this moment, PSPCL is unable to give new power connections to factories in Focal Point which have a requirement of more than 500 KVA. This is due to the reason that Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) is building a 220 KV sub-station in Focal Point which will make power transmission more smoother and interruption free.”
Vashishat said, “We have requested PSTCL to expedite the work and we have been informed that only 25% work is remaining. Besides, a transformer is being upgraded from 100 to 160 KVA under 220 KVA grid at Dhandari and once it’s complete, the situation in Focal Point in regards to new connections will ease.”