The Punjab State Electricity Board will install a 1,800 mw thermal power plant at Talwandi Sabo to bridge the gap between demand and supply of power. The basic and mandatory studies for this project have been completed.
The government had earlier issued a notification for the acquisition of land for the 2X270 mw Goindwal Sahib Thermal Project. In addition, a 1,320mw coal-based thermal power plant at Rajpura, would come on BOO (build-own and operate) basis. Sites have also been identified at Hazipur in Mukerian and Abohar for the development of thermal power plants Shiromani Akali Dal president and MP Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Thursday that Punjab is laying immense importance on making the state power surplus during the 11th plan. More than one third of the total allocation of about Rs 37,314 crore in the plan period of 2007-2012 would go to the power sector. He added that the five-year plan would get its final nod on December 19 at a meeting of the National Development Council, to be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Significantly, the allocation of Rs 37,314 crore for Punjab in the 11th plan represents almost 100% increase over the 10 five-year plan that had an allocation of Rs 18,657 crore.
Badal disclosed that Punjab had been allocated a total of 2,225 mws power from five ultra-mega power projects of the central government. These include Mundra in Gujarat, Sasan in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Talia in Jharkhand and Cheur in Tamil Nadu.
The state, at present, has 6,000 mw of power while the demand is 9,000 mw. The government plans to have 6,000 mw of additional power, within the next three years. “The state will ensure 24-hour power supply to all sectors, including industry, and attract investment,” Badal said.