Patiala May 30,2021: Punjab State Power Corporation Limited Chairman cum MD A.Venu Prasad said that PSPCL is committed to ensure 8 hours of quality power supply to agricultural tubewell connections daily in the upcoming paddy season and has made all the arrangements to fulfil the commitment.
CMD said that there is as such no shortage of material which may impede the availability of power and its distribution among various categories of consumers. Distribution transformers, poles &conductor (ACSR) etc. are available in sufficient quantities in stock to meet with the requirement in the summers and upcoming paddy season. He also said that the material management wing of the PSPCL has already planned in this regard and is on job to meet with any sudden increase in demand for crucial equipment and material in the ensuing paddy season and as such additional quantities of cables, PVC and transformers have been ordered to be purchased so as to ensure that sufficient and optimum stock of these materials is available in the stores.
He further added that because of the Covid-19 pandemic induced lock down, labour migration and diversion of industrial oxygen etc., many prominent industrial houses in the Punjab State and outside have either temporarily shut down their operations or scaled down their production capacities impacting adversely the timely availability of certain items of inventory. He said that appropriate measures are being undertaken by PSPCL to prepone the supplies and purchase orders for additional supplies have already been placed so as to ensure that release of connections and distributions of power remain unimpeded.
He said that about 40 items have been ordered on the basis of average annual consumption enhanced by 10% and further a cushion of plus 15% has been added so as to cover up for any eventuality of failure of supplies due to any reason. About 3 or 4 items for which the stock is low have clearly been identified and Spot Purchase Committee has been authorized to procure the material immediately through spot purchase.
CMD also added that because of the pandemic, the field officers have been asked to put the available material to efficacious and most judicious use and to avoid works which may result in wastages and to further explore cost effective alternatives. Spot purchase of critical items would also be resorted to if the situation so warrants and to meet any contingency.
Consumers, particularly agricultural power consumers have been requested to remain vigilant against theft of transformer parts, cables and other distribution equipment which has been laid in the fields.
The Chairman-cum-Managing Director stated that the PSPCL was prepared to meet the expected demand target of 14000MW of power during the paddy season of 2021.
The CMD was responding to a few news reports anticipating shortage of material during the coming paddy season.
