First Gift To Punjab Public

        Shiromani Akali Dal and Bhartiya Janta Party alliance wrote history in the recently concluded state assembly elections by coming to power second consecutive time, otherwise as per history state public not gave its verdict to ruling party or alliance for second time since its inception. It is worth mentioning here that alliance during its election campaign publicize the development work they did during their term in the office, and seek public support to continue the development work in the state. Assembly election process was completed mid March month of this year with oath of government and very next season after few days was summer season when state public pinch not only by scorching heat but power shortage also boil them. This year they were hoping problem free summer season as State Power Corporation announced through statements in the media that they have made sufficient arrangements of power for summer season.                     
        Punjab State is under severe shortage of power from almost one and half decades, thus to fill the gap of demand and supply erstwhile Electricity Board now Punjab State Power Cooperation often impose schedule and unschedul power cuts not only during summer season but also in the winter season. During its first term alliance government had given assurances to the state public that coming years state will emerge as the surplus power state, as below coded power plants are under constructions, whose details are taken from the website of ruling party – Present Government committed to make Punjab POWER SURPLUS by investing Rs 55620 Cr

1. Total Capacity in 2007 : 6207 MW
2. TOtal Demand : 9700 MW
3. Shortfall : 3000 MW
4. Power Plant under construction : 11124 MW
5. Total Investment : 55620 Cr.

Project	Power Capacity	Proposed Investment	Agency
Talwandi Sabo,Mansa	2,640MW	13,200 Cr.	Sterlite
Rajpura, Patiala	2,100MW	10,500 Cr.	L&T
Gobindwal Sahib,Tarantaran	1,860MW	9,300 Cr.	GVK
Shahpur Kandi	224MW	1,120 Cr.
Gidderbaha, Muktsar	2,640MW	13,200 Cr.	NTPC
Mansa	1,340MW	6,600 Cr.	Peon Power Ltd.
Kot Shamir, Bathinda	1,320 MW	6,600 Cr.	Lanco
Non Conventional Sources Of Energy	700 MW
Total	12,104MW	60,520 Cr.

         It was first time after long time that during Year 2011 State was without power cuts as concerned department made arrangements to give state consumers non stop power, it could also be seen due to election time that non stop power arrangements were made. Now after the election process completed, Punjab State Power Corporation had taken nod from Punjab State Electricity Regulation Commission of power cuts in the state from the period from May month onwards till October month, on the ground that there is gap of 17 to 18 lakh units during this period, and to give electricity to all the categories of consumers it needs power cuts, and on daily basis it needs three hours power cuts. As per information Punjab State Regulatory Commission had stamp its approval on to State Power Corporation demands with terms that State Power Corporation will inform consumers about power cuts, plus there will no unschedul power cuts in the state except in emergency.
        Thanks to weather that we pass April month not with severe heat but still state public started facing undeclared power cuts in rural parts of state and as we entered in May month then mercury rose sharply and cross the forty to forty five degree Celsius temperature and for State Power Corporation it was not possible to supply power with prior information and now state public is facing undeclared power cuts not only during day but also during nights, so until and unless state not get rain this process will continue to boil state public with heat and anger until mentioned above power plants not start operational it is not visible that state public will be able to pass summer time without power cuts.