Amidst the ongoing power tussle in Punjab Congress and ‘power’ (electricity) crisis in the state, Congress MLA and former minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday targeted Chief Minister Amarinder Singh as he raised questions on Power Purchase Agreements in Punjab. He also gave suggestions to improve the electricity situation in the state.
In his 9-part tweet, Sidhu said, “Truth of Power Costs, Cuts, Power Purchase Agreements and How to give Free and 24 hour Power to the People of Punjab: 1. There is No need for Power-Cuts in Punjab or for the Chief Minister to regulate office timings or AC use of the Common People … If we Act in the right direction,” he tweeted.
The Congress leader said that Punjab is buying power at an average cost of Rs 4.54 per unit, while the national average is Rs 3.85 per unit and Chandigarh is paying Rs 3.44 per unit.
Sidhu said that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha can bring in new legislation to amend the Power Purchase Agreements signed by the Badal government which are responsible for the high electricity rates in the state.
“Punjab’s over-dependence on three Private Thermal Plants at Rs 5-8 per unit makes Punjab pay more than other states Badal Govt signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with three Private Thermal Power Plants in Punjab. Till 2020, Punjab has already paid 5400 Crore due to faulty clauses in these Agreements and is expected to pay Rs 65,000 Crore of Punjab People’s Money just as fixed charges,” he said.
Sidhu further said that Punjab can purchase power from the National Grid at much cheaper rates, “but these Badal-signed PPAs are acting against Punjab’s Public Interest. Punjab may not be able to re-negotiate these PPAs due to them having legal protection from Hon’ble Courts, but there is a way forward”.
He continued, “Punjab Vidhan Sabha can bring in New Legislation with retrospective effect to Cap power purchase costs to prices available on the National Power Exchange at any given time … Thus, by amending the law, these Agreements will become Null & Void, saving People of Punjab’s Money,” he said.
He pointed out that Punjab’s revenue per unit of consumption is one of the lowest in India, “due to gross mismanagement of the complete power purchase and supply system”. PSPCL pays Rs. 0.18 per unit “extra” on every unit supplied, even after receiving over Rs 9,000 crore in subsidy from the state.”