Post-SC order, Power Corp’s deficit up by 3,000 lakh units
Umesh Dewan
Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 3
With the Union Government implementing the Supreme Court verdict of giving 7.19 per cent power share to Himachal Pradesh from various Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) projects with effect from November 1, Punjab’s entitlement of power has been reduced from 54.5 to 51.8 per cent.

Now, Punjab would be power deficit by at least 3,000 lakh units (LUs) a year and the cash-strapped Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) would have to purchase power from outside the state, which would put an additional burden of about Rs 80-90 crore.

As per the new power-sharing arrangement, now Punjab would get 34 MW less power from Bhakra Nangal Project, 34 MW less power from Dehra Power House and 7.1 MW less power from Pong Power House.

PSPCL Director (Distribution) Arun Verma said, “Punjab will be power deficit by 75.1 MW, but there is nothing to panic as we will meet the shortfall by purchasing power from outside agency.”

Verma, however, said reduction in power share from the BBMB projects would definitely lead to additional financial burden on the Power Corporation. The statistics pertaining to the power purchase show that power availability from the BBMB projects was at a very low cost of about Rs 0.22 per unit. However, if the PSPCL purchases power from outside the state now, every unit of power would not be less than Rs 3, which would mean an additional burden of Rs 84 crore (approximately) on the exchequer.