Punjab government today directed power utility PSPCL to ensure 8-hour continuous power supply to the agriculture sector during the paddy season.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, in a meeting with officials, said he wanted the power department to supply continuous eight-hour power supply to agriculture sector during the entire period of the paddy season.
There should also not be any power cuts on the commercial and domestic sectors.
Briefing the Deputy Chief Minister on the plan for the paddy season, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited chairman K D Chaudhari said farmers would receive eight hours power supply for four days during the day and for the same number of days during the night alternatively.
Badal said the performance of the Chief Engineers would be also be monitored on a daily basis. "Officers will be graded as per their performance during the next five months," he said.
He also directed the PSPCL to establish a helpline service, saying there were complaints that PSPCL staff deputed to deal with the public and answer calls regarding power disruption were not responding in a professional manner.
