Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has announced the Punjab government will buy Goindwal thermal plant. He said the government has coal stored only for 45 more days.
Mann said the remaining coal will be used in Goindwal thermal plant which will lead to cheaper source of electricity. Makind a veiled attack on the BJP, Mann said some governments sell state assets but the AAP government buys private assets.
Earlier Mann had said there was a requirement of 1000 mega-watt electricity for cultivation of paddy. The Indian Meteorogical Department (IMD) has stated there will be less rainfall this year in Punjab, hence, there will be greater dependency on electricity for agriculture.
Mann had even written a letter to Union Power Minister R K Singh stating about the shortage of electricity in the state. If there is less rainfall then the cultivation of paddy will get affected. Although, the Union government has not responded to the problem of Punjab yet.
Mann said Goindwal Power plant is being bought on a private basis hence tender will be floated among the bidders for the plant. The Goindwal Power plant is on the verge of bankruptcy. He said the plant will be bought and will be made operational again. The power plant has a capacity of 540 mega-watt. Reports said, this will not have any impact on the present electricity production in the state.
An agreement will be made between the Punjab State Power Corporation and the bidder who wins the tender.
A cabinet panel will be called for the bidding to take place. According to reports, about 12 parties have come forward to buy the Thermal Power Plant. PSPCL is one of the twelve parties bidding for the Goindwal thermal power plant.
Punjab Power Minister Harbajan Singh ETO, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian will part of the Cabinet to carry out the bidding process.