Punjab Minister blames Cong for power crisis

Instead of generating power, Singh believed in purchasing power from private sellers at exorbitant rate, Revenue and Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia told reporters here.

He said it was unfortunate that instead of making Punjab self-sufficient in power generation and attracting investment in the industrial sector, the previous Congress government had "scuttled" projects approved by the SAD-BJP government in the past.

Majithia claimed that it was Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who envisioned super mega thermal plants, got them approved from 9 Union ministries, acquired land, got process of co-linkage initiated and entered power purchase agreements with them.

 

He said that despite Punjab Congress leadership creating hurdles at every step, three thermal plants were nearing completion and would start generating power by next year.

Majithia said Punjab was now paying dearly for the "zero performance" of the previous Congress government.