Tubewell Power Connections
Load enhancement charges cut
Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

Bhura Kona (Tarn Taran), October 19
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has directed the Punjab State Electricity Board to provide farmers having land beyond the border fencing with on-the-spot power connections under the Tatkal scheme.

At the same time, the Chief Minister announced that the power load enhancement charges in the case of tubewell connections had been reduced from Rs 3,600 per hp to Rs 1,200 per hp. The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission had enhanced the charges from Rs 1,200 per hp to Rs 3,600, resulting in widespread resentment among farmers who had even resorted to protests at several places in Punjab.

Conceding the demand of border farmers, Badal, who was here to participate in a function related to the birth anniversary of the late Damdami Taksal chief Sant Kartar Singh Bhindranwale, said the PSEB had been directed to give on-the-spot power connections to those farmers who had their land across the barbed wire on the Indo-Pak border. The issue was highlighted by The Tribune in August. “Panchayats have also been brought under the Tatkal scheme for power connections. Now panchayats will be able to avail themselves of power connections without any delay for community use,” said Badal, who lauded the services rendered by Sant Kartar Singh Bhindranwale to the Sikh Panth and humanity during his lifetime.