In a first, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has deputed its chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) and four directors to oversee the functioning of the state’s five thermal power plants amid mounting power disruptions and a generation shortfall of around 2,000 MW during peak-demand hours.
Under an office order issued by the PSPCL, CMD Basant Garg has been assigned the Rajpura Thermal Power Station, operated by Nabha Power Limited. Director (commercial) Harsharan Kaur Trehan will oversee the Guru Amar Das Thermal Power Plant at Goindwal Sahib, while director (distribution) Inderpal Singh has been assigned the Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Power Plant at Ropar. Director (finance) Surinder Kumar Beri will monitor the Talwandi Sabo Power Plant, while director (generation) Punnerdeep Singh Brar has been deputed to oversee the Guru Hargobind Sahib Thermal Plant at Lehra Mohabbat. PSPCL director (generation) Punnerdeep Singh Brar acknowledged that power cuts and faults in some generating units had affected the power situation. The deployment of senior officials at all five thermal plants was aimed at ensuring close monitoring and improving generation. The crisis has also triggered concern among industry representatives. He urged PSPCL to ensure a reliable power supply and provide timely information to industries regarding scheduled and unscheduled outages.
He said there was no shortage of coal at present. In a letter to the PSPCL CMD, Ashok Gupta, president of the Mohali Industries Association, said frequent, unplanned and poorly communicated power cuts were causing production losses, idle manhours and financial hardship to industries.
