PPA may invite AAP to do winning politics in Punjab..

Ludhiana, Feb.18 (HS): The Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amrinder Singh again has awaken from his deep slumber on the issue of PPA (power purchase agreement). Not long ago he had announced that a white paper would be published on the issue.

Yesterday, Captain has, reportedly, warned private power companies not to mess with state finances. Earlier, state Congress president, Sunil Jakhar had vociferously clamoured for the white paper on the issue.

Even, Corporation Minister, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa from his own cabinet had also demanded relief to consumers. Newly elected BJP president, Ashwini Sharma has blamed the present government for the mess and said that the Akali-BJP government was anxious about consumers and this government was thinking of itself only.

During the tea party, yesterday in Chandigarh, hosted for newly elected Punjab Youth Congress team, Sunil Jakhar remained elusive however he was available in Chandigarh. Thus, there is resentment among congressmen against Captain on the issue.

After  Arvind Kejriwal taking oath as chief minister of Delhi and a sculptor of Ludhiana has installed his wax statue in his personal museum, some people in Punjab desired that the time has come that AAP should rule in the state because Akalis dragged the province to drugs and Congress government is maintaining the status quo.

Roads in the financial capital of Punjab is in bad shape and electricity is playing hide and seek to make life miserable for people. But since 2018 this agenda of Punjab government to review the PPA has been put on the backburner.

Every now and then, the Amarinder Singh government had announced to review the power purchase agreements (PPA) between the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and private players involved in electricity generation in the state.

Allaying the fear of PSPCL employees regarding dominance of private players in the power sector due to closure of 880 Mega Watt (MW) thermal units in Bathinda and Ropar, power minister GS Kangar on Friday said a joint committee of representatives of PSPCL, Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited and employees associations would be formed to re-examine the existing PPAs.

In the run-up to the elections, the Congress had accused the PSPCL of extending undue benefits to the tune of Rs 7,500 crore to private players, allowing them to raise their variable costs arbitrarily, thus making power expensive for the consumers. Now the question arises, is road from Delhi to Punjab is clear for APP since PPA is an issue related to common consumers, is a question being asked by people in Punjab ?