Punjab has plans for self-reliance in power

In order to make Punjab self- reliant in power, which is reeling under severe power shortage, the Shiromani Akali Dal working president Sukhbir Singh Badal unveiled a blue print for futuristic development of the state.

It aims to add over 6,000 Mw of power in the next three and half years by setting up projects at pit heads and port heads, liberalising the state policy so as to allow the industrial units to develop captive as well as co-generation plants and providing open access system.

As against Punjab's total generation capacity of 6,088 Mw, the present demand in the state is of 9,000 Mw power. The power shortage in the state is growing at the rate of 10 per cent per annum.

He said his party was working in close liasion with the state government( SAD-BJP alliance) to transform the power sector of the state. The party's agenda is to add 6,000 Mw of power to the existing capacity.

This was more than the entire generation capacity of 5,000 Mw in the state over the past sixty years.

The new capcity additions include 500 Mw at Lehra Mohabbat which would be executed in two phases. Both the phases would be operational by November 2007. Also, the Goindwal power plant having 600 Mw power generation capcity would be operational within 3 years.

There are similar plans to generate 1,200 Mw power from Talwandi Sabo power plant and also 1,200 Mw at Nabha for which pre-bid conference would be held on May 19, 2007.

The state would also generate 1,000 Mw of power from co-generation and agricultural residue.

Besides that , the state is talks in with the coastal governments and private companies to set up 2,000 Mw power capacity at port and pit heads.