State government committed to ensure uninterrupted and regular power supply to farmers during paddy season: CM

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday unequivocally said that the state government is firmly committed to ensure uninterrupted and regular power supply to the farmers in wake of the coming paddy season.

Chairing a meeting with the officers, the Chief Minister categorically said that the state government will ensure a minimum eight hours power supply to the farmers during the sowing season. He said that the state government has evolved a foolproof mechanism to ensure that farmers do not face any sort of inconvenience during the paddy season. Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that the state government will set a new benchmark by ensuring regular supply of power to the farmers during the paddy season.

The Chief Minister said that the food growers of the state have always played a key role in making the country self-reliant in food production so the Punjab government is committed to ensure regular supply to them during the paddy season. He said that the state government has made comprehensive arrangements for meeting demand in wake of the paddy season adding that it is much more than the demand anticipated by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited. Bhagwant Singh Mann directed PSPCL & PSTCL to ensure round-the-clock supply during summer and paddy season to all areas of the state.

The Chief Minister also said that a time-bound redressal of power related complaints of the farmers and other consumers through a 24/7 mechanism with adequate manpower has been evolved. He said that for effective redressal of complaints during the summer/ Paddy season additional manpower has been deployed. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that complaint centres have also been strengthened to ensure that the farmers do not face any delay in redressal of their complaints and grievances.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government had scripted a new success story by introducing several reforms in the power sector like purchasing Goindwal power plant earlier owned by a private company GVK Power Power at a cost of Rs 1080 crore. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as coal from Pachwara coal mine, allotted to Punjab, can be used only for government power plants so with purchase of this power plant this coal can be aptly utilized for producing power to provide it to every sector of the state. He further said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that 90% consumers in the state are getting zero power bill due to pro-people decisions of the state government.