No power cuts in Punjab from first March, says Sukhbir Badal
GAGANDEEP AHUJA
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
LEHRA MOHABBAT: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal Wednesday said that from next month there would be no power cuts and PSEB had finalised a plan to ensure 24 hours power supply in the state.

He was speaking after dedicating 4th Unit of Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP) of 250 MW capacity to the people of the State.

Badal said that if in a short period of two years they had achieved so much, imagine what more their government could achieve to shape the destiny of Punjab in next three years. Mr.Badal said that their government had taken the development of Bathinda on priority and made a comprehensive plan under which a Central University, a World Class Cancer Treatment Hospital, an airport, a sports stadium were being set up besides the installation of RO System in 300villages for providing fresh & safe drinking water for the people.

Badal in his upbeat mood enthusiastically announced that the sole objective of SAD-BJP government was to initiate multi-dimensional development in the state for which efforts had already been started from the day one after assuming the charge by the present government.

Deputy CM announced that with the view to mitigate the hardships being faced by the residents of areas under waterlogging, directed PSEB to adopt the Sem areas and release tubewell connections on priority. Dy.CM also announced that to release tubewell connections on priority to Gram Panchayats, Religious Institutions who own their land, the PSEB had authorised its Additional S.Es/Senior XENs of concerned divisions to release the connections.

In his welcome address Chairman, PSEB Er. Harinder Singh Brar, thanked Deputy Chief Minister for showing concern for the development of power sector in the state and striving hard to strengthen it with full vigour and devotion. He assured to fulfil his dream to make Punjab a Power Surplus State. He informed that with the commissioning of 4th Unit, GHTP's total generation capacity reached to 920MW. He said that the Stage 1 of the GHTP had been constructed at a cost of Rs.1189 crore and now the stage-2 was completed at a cost of Rs.2389 crore thereby totalling the cost of project at Rs.3578 crore