Set up thermal plant under state sector: Panel
Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 3
Perturbed over the dilly-dallying approach of the state government towards setting up of the 1,320-MW thermal power plant in the state sector, the newly elected executive committee of the PSEB Engineers’ Association has expressed its resentment over the matter.

Association office bearers said despite repeated assurances, no tangible steps had been initiated by the state government to prepare the blueprint for the proposed plant.

After several protests by technocrats working with the power corporation, the government had given its nod for setting up a thermal plant of 1320-MW capacity in the state sector at Mukeria last year.

Association’s newly elected general secretary Sanjeev Sood stated that the construction of upcoming thermal plants in the private sector was running behind schedule. “Serious issues, particularly related to availability of coal, are bound to escalate the cost of power from these plants,” he said.

“On the other hand, sufficient coal is available with the PSPCL from its own captive mines to set up and run new thermal plants with cheap domestic coal of good quality. But, the government is least concerned to provide cheap power,” claimed Sood.