Punjab to become power surplus state by year-end: Badal

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that owing to the various steps undertaken by the SAD-BJP government, Punjab would become a power surplus state by the year end.
"Days are not far when instead of spending heavily on purchasing power, the state will be selling power to other states," Badal said while addressing a gathering after inaugurating the upgraded 220KW Power Grid here.
He pointed out that there was a 30 per cent power deficit when the SAD-BJP alliance assumed power in the state in 2007 mainly because its "predecessors" had never bothered to augment the power supply.
Badal claimed that the SAD-BJP government laid thrust on bringing new power projects to the state and there were three thermal power plants in the pipeline.

On the compensation granted by the Central government to flood victims in the state, Badal said it's a "cruel joke" with the people. He said though he had requested the Prime Minister as well as the Union Home Ministry to hike the grant, there was no positive response from them.
He said that none of the Central minister even bothered to visit the state to give any grant to the flood-affected.
Asked about Congress' allegations that the state was on the verge of an economic slump, he said, "The Punjab Congress leaders must introspect and look into the deplorable economic condition of the country under the UPA regime... That would help the country.