PLEA TO LET PSEB EXECUTE GIDDERBAHA PROJECT

HT Correspondent
RUPNAGAR

The PSEB Engineers Association has sought the exe- cution of the Gidderbaha Thermal Project by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) instead of private players.
In a letter written to the Punjab Chief Minister, association pres- ident H.S. Bedi said though the state government had given top priority to generation, the entire capacity of around 6,500 MW had been planned through the private sector. He said engineers had been making repeated pleas that some capacity addition must be planned through the state sector, but noth- ing had been done so for.

He said at present the PSEB had about 50 per cent own gen- eration to meet the maximum demand of 8,000-9,000 MW. The demand in a single day varies between 2,000 and 3,000 MW, which is mainly met through the Ranjit Sagar Dam Project and the state's own thermal plants.

He said when all new thermal projects in the private sector were commissioned, the PSEB's share would be reduced to 25 per cent and this would adversely affect its capability to supply power opti- mally. Private companies had their own schedules and would try to maximise generation during low frequency to earn more, Bedi added.

He said the PSEB had a good track record of building thermal plants in record time and was operating at very good plant load factors. The denial of execution of thermal projects to the PSEB defies logic, he added.

The association said funding of the project was possible through the Power Finance Corporation