Punjab to set up 1320 MW Mukerian thermal in state sector
Vinod Kumar Gupta, 24-Oct-2011

Monday October 24 2011

Chandigarh

Punjab Government has agreed to give approval to the proposal of the Punjab State power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to set up 1320 MW thermal project near Mukerian under state sector.

This long pending demand of the PSEB Engineers' Association was settled in the meeting of the Association held with S. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister Punjab, H S Bedi President of Association said.

PSPCL had conveyed its decision to set power project under state sector and sought Punjab Government's approval in April 2011 but the power department had been raising various queries and approval was being delayed due to unnecessary correspondence between power department & PSPCL. Chief Minister, Punjab while appreciating the efforts made by the engineers & employees of power companies for providing cut free power supply to consumers of Punjab, directed the Punjab Govt. officers to give the necessary written approval immediately to the proposal of the PSPCL management to set up power plant under state sector.

In the meeting, engineers were assured that promotional scales of PSPCL employees will be notified by October 31 and all other pending allowances including Generation incentive will be revised by November 10.On the issue of setting up Provident Fund Trust and making it operational, it was assured that needful will be done within next ten days. The Financial restructuring Plan will be finalised by December 31 and thereafter Pension Fund will be operationalised.

Association brought out that consumer service and working of the companies is suffering due to shortage of engineers/employees and there is urgent need to make immediate recruitment for which case is pending with the government. Punjab Government has assured the recruitment of 500 engineers in power utilities immediately in a transparent manner.

Managing Director & Chairman PSPCL. KD Chaudhary also assured the Chief Minister for the availability of regular and quality Power supply throughout the state. He further added that in view of the Power sector reforms undertaken by the state government there would be no shortage of power in the future.

H S Bedi thanked the Chief Minister for the gesture.