Punjab to spend Rs.3235 crores on power distribution system: Sukhbir Badal
Punjab Newsline Network
Wednesday, 03 February 2010
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has chalked out an ambitious project to the tune of Rs. 3225 crores to strengthen the existing the power transmission and distribution (T&D) system in the state keeping in view the expected increased generation after the commencement of new thermal plants.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone of Rs. 4.5 crore 66 kv sub-station at Village Kaler of Faridkot district Thursday, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister said that about Rs.800 crore of seed money for this project would be raised by the state government. He said that much needed up gradation of the entire power network system both in urban as well as in rural sectors had become mandatory in view of the 23.91% of total power loss due to the snags in the prevalent T&D system against national average of 15%. He said that with the strengthening the existing the power transmission and distribution (T&D) system state would save Rs.1000 crore lost annually on this count .

Giving the details of the projects, ukhbir Singh Badal informed that the state government had approved Rs.1990 crore for transmission project and Rs.1235 crore for distribution project and both these would be completed in two years’ resulting in reduction of loses by 15%. Sukhbir Singh Badal also informed that the presently 4% were the transmission loses and about 20% were distribution loses, out of 20% distribution loses 10% were technical and remaining 10% were due to theft and pilferage. To control the theft of electricity and reduce T&D loses, 35 lakh electric meters would be replaced by electro mechanical meters at a cost of Rs.175 crore with in next two years, added Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal .He said that about 40 lakh meters would be shifted involving an outlay of Rs.200 crore in next two years.

Sukhbir Singh Badal said that Punjab was all set to become power surplus state in next two years. He said that work was on full swing in 540 MW Goindwal Sahib, 1980 MW Talwandi Sabo and 1320 MW Rajpura Themal plants and work on 2640 MW Gidderbaha Super Thermal plant would start in April with expected sanction of coal linkage in March.

H.S.Brar, Chairman , P.S.E.B also spoke on the occasion.