Power cuts: industry accuses PSPCL of poor planning: The Tribune India

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Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune press service

Ludhiana, July 11

Already unable to cope with the pathetic state of electricity and the resulting restrictions, the state’s industry suffered another shock as power cuts were extended until July 15.

Surprisingly, three large power plants in Talwani Sabo, Ropar and Lehra Mohabbbat state have developed a problem, rendering them partially or fully non-operational.

Due to the current state of electricity, the industry is protesting against the state government for not being fully prepared in advance, because the sharp increase in demand, due to the sowing of rice and in extreme heat, is not a new phenomenon. Industry stakeholders believe they face huge financial losses due to the failure of PSPCL officials. They even called on the state government to fire the senior officials responsible for this criminal negligence.

The industry, whether small, micro or mini, registers protests against PSPCL on a daily basis. Some burn the effigies of the PSPCL officials concerned while others organize demonstrations to protest.

All Associations of the Forum des Industries et du Commerce

Senior members of the association, including Badish Jindal and Narendra Bhamra, said the state government did not provide electricity to industries, as a result of which Ludhiana’s industry was facing losses of production of over Rs 20,000 crore. The blackout directly affected 10,000 industries and indirectly two lakhs, they said.

Chamber of commercial and industrial enterprise

Upkar Singh, chairman, and Pankaj Sharma, secretary general of CICU, said the industry was unable to function under such circumstances and had suffered huge losses, both tangible and intangible. Production was at a standstill and engineering, steel, forging, casting and salvage units were losing orders. The power panel needs to be one panel and it shouldn’t increase the bill for July and August to compensate the industry, Sharma said.

Janta Nagar Small Scale Industry

Members said earlier that heavy penalties were imposed on them and now these prolonged power cuts have crippled the local industry. Jaswinder Thukral, president of the industry association, said they regularly protest against the bad sanctions imposed and will now intensify the agitation over the blackouts further. Why should we suffer because of the faults of PSPCL? asked Thukral.

United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Assn

DS Chawla, president of the association, said it was a total failure on the part of PSPCL officials. Statistics show that around Rs 5,500 crore is to be paid by the state government in power grant account given to farmers and around Rs 2,225 crore is payable by government departments to PSPCL. These 7,500 crore rupees should have been turned over to PSPCL to purchase electricity and power should be restored, Chawla added.

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