Punjab Government must release white paper on electricity: Sukhpal Khaira

Punjab government must release white paper on electricity: Sukhpal Khaira

Ensure 24 hour electricity supply to farmers before selling it to Pakistan, Khaira demands

Nabaz-e-Punjab Bureau, Chandigarh, April 21, 2017
Aam Aadmi Party on Friday demanded from the Punjab government to release a white paper on the present situation of electricity production and demand in the state. In a press statement, Aam Aadmi Party MLA and Chief whip in vidhan sabha Sukhpal Singh Khaira said that the government is unable to meet the electricity requirement in state but is talking about selling electricity to Pakistan and Nepal.
Khaira said that Punjab is an agriculture based state and the paddy grower farmers need 24 hour uninterrupted supply of electricity but in the peak season farmers are provided only 8 hours of supply. He said that many small villages and remote areas (Dhanis) of state are still deprived of electricity facility.
AAP leader said that government itself is not clear about the power situation in state as the electricity minister has asked to review the power purchase agreements with private players in the state. He said that the clarity about it necessary before taking further steps to sell electricity. He termed government’s claim of power surplus mere an eyewash.
“The ties of India-Pakistan are not in good shape and both countries are engaged in many differences so in this time selling electricity to Pakistan does not make sense.” Khaira said. He said that the government also must clarify the rates at which it is selling electricity to the residents.