Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has assured Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to allow 550 Mw from the unallocated power of central sector generation stations from April to October 2010 to ensure 8-hour uninterrupted power supply to the agriculture sector for the paddy season.
Taking part in the deliberations, Badal impressed upon the minister to allow allocation of 15 per cent (205 Mw) from the unallocated power of central sector generating stations for the months of April and May and 25 per cent (345 Mw) for the period June to mid October for the paddy season. The CM apprised Shinde that Punjab would be facing power shortage of about 10-12 per cent in the pre-paddy months of April and May and this deficit was likely to peak at about 16 per cent due to huge agriculture demand during paddy period from June to mid-October.
