Power Corp announces fresh regulatory measures
Umesh Dewan/TNS

Patiala, July 19
Fresh regulatory measures for power supply have been announced by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) today. As per the circular with new instructions that are to come in force with effect from July 21, one weekly off day has been imposed on the general industrial consumers being fed from Category-II feeders. For the arc/induction furnaces and rolling mills fed from Category-II and III feeders, four weekly off days have been imposed.

Condemning frequent changes in the power supply schedule, a majority of industrialists said they were facing numerous problems and have not been able to do routine scheduling of working days for the labour. Speaking to The Tribune, president of the Federation of Punjab Small Industries Association, Badish K Jindal, said, “Presently the entire industry in Punjab is facing many problems because of the frequent change in power regulatory measures. It is simply ridiculous to change the power supply schedule for the industry after every two-three days.” He further said that industrialists have to inform the labour about the weekly off beforehand and that is why the power supply schedule for the industrial units should not be changed before a month.

President of the Induction Furnaces Association, Mandi Gobindgarh, Mahinder Gupta, said that it was beyond their understanding why the power corporation was imposing weekly offs, when they claim that they had sufficient power to meet the demand of the industrial sector. “PSPCL has miserably failed to properly plan the power supply schedule in accordance with the availability of power, because of which the industrial units in the state are the ultimate sufferers. On account of the frequent change in the power regulatory measures, the industry has to reschedule its operations, which is not an easy job”, he rued.

According to the PSPCL spokesperson, the demand for power supply recorded in the state yesterday was 1815 lakh units (LU), while the availability was 1807 LU. Industrialists point out that when the gap between the demand and supply of power is negligible, then what is the logic behind the imposition of power regulatory measures on the industry.

Director Distribution, PSPCL, Arun Verma, refuted the allegations of the industrialists. He said, “We have imposed a weekly off on the industry on July 6 only due to overloading of the system. After that, we have given relaxation to the industry and power regulatory measures which would come into effect from July 21 are not the new orders but is only the withdrawal of the relaxation given to the industry. Hence, it would be wrong to interpret that PSPCL was frequently changing power regulatory measures.”