Bathinda: Three of the four units at the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP) in Lehra Mohabbat, Bathinda, are now operational, taking the plant’s electricity generation capacity to around 620 MW amid protests by farmers demanding adequate power supply for paddy cultivation.
Farmers have been protesting for nearly a week, alleging that they were receiving only three to four hours of electricity a day for operating tubewells. They said the limited supply was making it difficult to meet the irrigation requirements of their paddy crops.
The 920-MW thermal plant was earlier operating with only one unit, while the remaining three had been shut for nearly three weeks. The third unit was brought back online on Friday, significantly increasing the plant’s generation capacity.
The disruption in the plant’s operations was reportedly linked to a strike by outsourced workers. The workers are demanding direct employment with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) instead of being engaged through contractors.
With three units now running, some improvement in the power supply situation is expected, particularly during the paddy season.
Plant sources said efforts are now focused on restoring the fourth unit, which would allow GHTP to move closer to its full generation capacity and help ease pressure on the state’s power supply network.
