Chandigarh, 1 July ,2021-Punjab state power corporation limited (PSPCL) has started imposing industrial weekly off, due to shortage of power in the state.
After starting power cuts in domestic category from June 30,2021, PSPCL has now started imposing weekly off in industries. As per the programme, PSPCL has imposed two day weekly off in Central (Ludhiana) zone and Jalandhar Zone . These weekly offs will not be applicable on essential and other exempted industries.
As per the schedule, “two weekly offs shall be observed with immediate effect on industry.” The authorities further clarified those fixed charges for the weekly offs shall not be levied.
When contacted the director distribution PSPCL DIPS Grewal, he confirmed the same and said “the weekly off will come into effect from 16:00 Hrs of today i.e July 1, 2021 to 16:00 hrs of July 3,2021.”
The power crises majorly rose in Punjab, due to the non-functioning of one of the 660 MW unit Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL) . TSPL has a total capacity of 1980 MW.
When questioned the TSPL authorities, they said” one of our 660 MW unit is under repair, after a major technical fault was detected in annual overhauling in March this year. That unit will be operational by the first week of August, if it comes back by the end of this month.”
Punjab’s total generation capacity from its own and from its share from other sources is around 13500 MW, But the demand rises to 14000 MW .
“As one of TSPL unit is not in operational mode , which created power shortage in the ongoing paddy season. Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has already directed the powercom authorities to give 8-hour power supply to farmers, for paddy sowing. Farmers were not getting the required power supply. So, the PSPCL management has decided to impose weekly off in industries” said a powercom official on the condition of anonymity
