9 months on, Goindwal plant remains shut
The Goindwal Sahib Thermal Plant is non-functional since nine months as GVK Power Limited, custodian of the project, seems unable to resume the power supply.
Recently the plant came into limelight after Punjab chief minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh announced to sell electricity to Pakistan from the plant as the supply will be easy, owing to its proximity to the border.
However, he had rolled back the plan after the alleged mutilation of Naib Subedar Paramjit Singh by Pakistani Army.
The slain soldier’s village Vein Poin is situated near Goindwal Sahib.
As per sources the GVK Power Limited which has the power purchase agreement (PPA) of the plant with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for 25 years, is already reeling under loan and is seeking more loan to resume the operations.
NONSUPPLY OF COAL, FUND CRUNCH HAVE HIT OPERATIONS OF THE PLANT
As coal is not being supplied to it, cost of the non-operational plant is increasing day by day.
As per sources, “The initial cost of the project was ₹28,00 and it is about to exceed ₹4,000 crore.” When the company stopped the operation in October, its officials had said that it will resume within 2-3 months, but failed to do so. When contacted, Maninder Singh, HR head of the company said that he is not authorized to say anything regarding the plant. However he said, “The plant will be operational soon.”
“As some employees have already been terminated, the others are also concerned,” said a source. Earlier also due to nonsupply of coal, the plant remained non-operational for many years before April 2016, when it became operational for the first time.