Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) is yet to process the pending 1.25 lakh applications for electricity connections to tube wells even though the National Green Tribunal (NGT) allowed it to do so two months ago. However, since the government has not issued the notification, the PSPCL cannot start issuing tube well connections.
The NGT had directed “state government to issue the necessary notification regarding the restriction of power supply to the tube wells, mentioning timings, etc,. in clear terms within a period of 30 days from the day of issuance of the order”.
Sources said, while the PSPCL was ready to provide the additional power needed to run these tube wells, it needed some time to start the process in a phased manner so as not to burden the existing grid supply lines.
The NGT had in its order made it clear that farmers who don’t come under the ambit of the free electricity policy are free to use diesel or any other generator sets. However, they have to follow the norms laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board or the Punjab State Pollution Control Board.
The NGT has directed the state government to implement the provisions of the Punjab Preservation of the Sub-Soil Water Act-2009 and the notifications issued thereunder from time to time.
Experts suggest the government’s decision to allow these tube wells would lower further the depleting groundwater table.
Free power for the farm sector is more of a political compulsion in the state. In February, last year, in the run up to the parliamentary elections, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal announced that all applications for tube well connections before 2007 would be released after six months. Sources say all tube well connections would be released by 2016-end just before the 2017 assembly polls.
Meanwhile, various bodies have threatened to hold protests if tube well connections for which they have already paid are not cleared at the earliest.
KD Chaudhri, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, PSPCL, said, “The connections would be released after the state government issues a formal notification after consulting the irrigation and agriculture departments.”
The PSPCL hopes that with the start of power generation at two more units of Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant (1,320MW) and two units of Goindwal Sahib Plant (540MW) in October-November, the state will have surplus power during the paddy season.
