Beopar mandal for privatization of PSEB
28 Jun 2009, Manmeet Singh, TNN

LUDHIANA: With the state witnessing acute power shortage, voices demanding privatization of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) are gaining
momentum. The Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal unanimously resolved to demand privatization of the PSEB.

The decision was taken by the mandal after a meeting of trade representatives from across the state on Sunday.
Discussing the issue, Amit Lal Jain, state president, Beopar Mandal, said, "We want the government to dissolve PSEB and float tenders to privatize the transmission and generation of electricity. Private hands can run the business effectively."

Lashing out state machinery for failing to provide adequate power, Jain, said, "The mandal has worked out the economics of power, which shows that industrialists are running into huge losses."

"Government would have to pay Rs 22 crore to procure the deficit electricity, but in absence of power, industrialists and traders are suffering a loss of Rs 500 crores daily," he said, adding, "It is not justified on the government's part to save money, which is causing losses to traders."

The mandal has already initiated a series of protests at various places. Issuing an ultimatum, the mandal members said if power supply is not regularized in the next 10 days, they would intensify their protest.

Jain said, "While on the one hand, the government is spending Rs 2600 crore annually to provide free electricity to farmers, on the other, it is reluctant to provide electricity on payment to the industry."

The members also demanded that all electricity hotlines, provided to residences of senior officials and politicians, be disconnected.

Jain said until the private sector was allowed to participate in power generation and transmission, power crisis would continue.