Committee to work on closure of outdated thermal plants

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab cabinet on Thursday constituted a state health minister-led sub-committee to consider and work out the modalities for the closure of state-owned thermal plants that have exceeded the 25-year life span.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the council of ministers chaired by chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

The move was in line with the guidelines issued by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to retire non-viable thermal power plants (TPPs) that have exceeded the 25-year life span, an official spokesperson said.

Headed by health minister Brahm Mohindra, the sub-committee will comprise power minister Rana Gurjit, finance minister Manpreet Badal and technical education minister Charanjit Singh Channi as members.

The panel has been given two weeks’ time to submit its report on the move to permanently shut down the state-owned TPPs at Bathinda and Rupnagar. It will also make recommendations with respect to the fate of the employees of these plants.

According to the spokesperson, the 460 MW Guru Nanak

Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) at Bathinda and Units 1 & 2 of 1,260 MW Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant (GGSSTP) at Rupnagar had become non-viable due to the use of obsolete technology, coupled with high cost of power generation.

In comparison, the new Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects, including 1,400 MW Nabha Power Limited (NPL) at Rajpura, 1,980 MW Talwandi Sabo Power Limited at Mansa and 540 MW GVK Thermal Power Plant at Goindwal Sahib, were much more economical and efficient. All units at Bat hinda and Rupn agar hadou tlived their life span and had been operating to a mere 10-15% of their total capacity, said the spokesperson, adding that closure of the plants will not cause any shortfall in power genera-

tion in the state.

The cabinet also raised the procurement share of paddy for rice shellers in the state’s border areas, while deciding to constitute a three-member committee to fix and ensure minimum payment to labourers in the grain markets in the ensuing procurement season.

An official spokesperson said the cabinet decided to form the committee, which will include the labour secretary, after the issue was raised by power minister Rana Gurjit and local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.

On millers located in the border areas, the cabinet decided that against the 20% incentive provided to them last year over and above their 100% milling capacity, the millers will be allowed 40% additional share this season.