AAP opposes plan to close thermal plants

CHANDIGARH: Leader of opposition in Punjab assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Wednesday opposed the state government’s proposal to shut down its Bathinda, Lehra Mohabbat and Rupnagar thermal power plants.

Reacting to a HT story on the government move, Khaira said that instead of providing one job per family as per its election manifesto, the Congress government is going to steal bread and butter of 6,300 families. He also wondered what the state government would do with 750 million tonnes coal quota being allocated shortly, as this quota can only be used for stateowned plants and cannot be given to private plants. He urged the three-member subcommittee headed by health minister Brahm Mohindra to issue a white paper on the current power situation. “The proposal to shut down these plants should be first debated on the floor of the state assembly and only then the government should take appropriate decision,” he added.

Khaira also said power tariff is likely to shoot up on account of a condition incorporated in the PPAs signed between PSPCL and private thermal plant companies as per which the corporation has to pay a minimum amount for power even if not utilised by the state. He said Capt Amarinder Singh while in opposition had opposed tooth and nail setting up of private thermal plants in the state.HTC