आप मंत्रियों और नेताओं ने ''पंजाब दा पानी पंजाब दा हक" हैशटैग के साथ चलाया मुहिम, लोगों से भी विरोध की अपील की
Chandigarh, December 29 : The year 2024 started with a historic move. The Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government purchased the Goindwal Power Plant from GVK Power. The cost was Rs. 1080 crore. This acquisition marked the first instance of a state government purchasing a private power plant in India. The thermal plant was renamed after Sri Guru Amardas Ji. Its load factor was increased from 35 percent to 77 percent during this year. This effectively doubled its power generation capacity. This 540 MW thermal plant, acquired at an economical rate of Rs. 2 crore per MW, is projected to save the state over Rs. 350 crore annually.
Punjab Minister Highlights Coal Procurement Success, Saving Rs. 1000 Crore
Punjab Power and Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO revealed this in a press communique issued here. He presented the year-ending report of the Punjab Power Department. During the presentation, he highlighted the government’s role in revolutionising the state’s power sector. He said that the Pachhwara coal mine has been operational since December 2022. It has been instrumental in supplying coal to the state’s thermal plants.
From April 1, 2024, a total of 50.84 lakh metric tons of coal was delivered through 1277 rakes, at a cost Rs. 11 crore per 1 lakh metric ton cheaper than that of Coal India Limited. This efficient coal procurement resulted in savings of Rs. 593 crore. Operations started in 2022. The Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government made concrete efforts. Since then, the mine has provided 93.87 lakh metric tons of coal, yielding total savings of Rs. 1000 crore, he added.
Punjab Government Boosts Solar and Hybrid Power Plant
“In line with its commitment to sustainable energy, the Punjab Government has made significant investments in clean energy. From April 1 to November 30, 2024, the department signed purchase agreements. These agreements are for 1454 MW of solar power plant at an average rate of Rs. 2.52 to Rs. 2.53 per unit. Since taking office in March 2022, the government has secured agreements for 3704 MW of solar power. The rates for these agreements range from Rs. 2.33 to Rs. 2.76 per unit,” said Harbhajan Singh ETO. They completed 430 MW of rooftop solar installations. The government also signed agreements for 900 MW of hybrid power (solar and wind energy) with rates between Rs. 3.22 and Rs. 3.28 per unit.”
Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that these initiatives have allowed the Punjab government to succeed. Led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the government has provided 600 units of free electricity every two months. They offer 300 units per month to the state’s domestic consumers. He highlighted that 90 percent of domestic consumers in the state have received zero electricity bills.
Power Minister Announces Significant Transmission Capacity Increase
The Power Minister revealed the initiatives taken to meet the increasing power demand and improve distribution. He said that the transmission capacity from the National Grid was enhanced. This enhancement was from 9000 MW to 9800 MW in 2024.
It was a significant increase from 7100 MW in 2022. The state commissioned 5 new 66 KV Sub-stations. Additionally, it expanded the capacity of 14 power transformers. This added 780 MW to the 66 KV Transmission. “27 km 66 KV Transmission Lines Connected”. They increased the capacity of 28 power transformers of 400KV, 220KV, or 132KV. We also installed new transformers.
These actions resulted in a total increase of 2591 MVA in this transmission capacity.We connected 131 circuit kilometers of transmission lines to 400KV, 220KV, and 132KV sub-stations. In Ropar, a new 400KV sub-station was commissioned, and the 132KV sub-station in Gurdaspur was upgraded to a 220KV capacity.
“The Power Department’s efforts bore fruit on June 29, 2024. It met a maximum demand of 16058 MW without imposing power cuts on industrial, residential, or commercial sectors. They also ensured more than 8 hours of uninterrupted power supply to the agricultural sector”, said Harbhajan Singh ETO.
Power Minister Highlights Recruitment Drive in PSPCL and PSTCL
The Power Minister expressed pride in the department’s achievements. The Power Department has recruited 1351 youth in PSPCL and PSTCL since April 2024. Harbhajan Singh ETO said they are filling an additional 1,288 posts, with the recruitment process expected to conclude by March 2025. Additionally, the Power Department has recruited a total of 6498 posts in PSPCL and PSTCL. These recruitment’s have occurred since March 2022. This aims to strengthen the manpower of the Power Department to better utilize its developing infrastructure.
“Rs. 9,563 Crore Sanctioned for Punjab Power Distribution”
Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that Rs. 9,563 crore has been sanctioned under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). This will further improve the power distribution structure. The Government of India will provide 60 percent of this amount as a grant. He expressed confidence in the Power Department. He believes they will set new benchmarks in 2025. This will ensure better and uninterrupted power supply to the people of Punjab.
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