3 min readChandigarhJun 4, 2009 02:40 AM IST
First published on: Jun 4, 2009 at 02:40 AM IST
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal called on Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Tuesday and sought more time for unbundling the Punjab State Electricity Board PSEB. He also asked the state power officials to seek another extension from the Centre on the 40-page notification file submitted to him for unbundling the Board. However,after allowing Punjab nine extensions in seven years,the Union Power Ministry has written to Punjab asking for a copy of the notification on unbundling of PSEB,as promised by the state while seeking the last extension granted till June 15.
Describing it as a congratulatory visit,Chief Ministers media advisor Harcharan Bains said the issue was discussed but no official letter was submitted to the Union Power Minister.
The Centre has asked Punjab to take in-principle decision and spell out a clear roadmap for corporatisation of the Board,reeling under high accumulated losses and debt burden. However,Punjab has been requesting for extensions on the plea that it is not in a position to clear huge outstanding arrears of the Board running into over Rs 7,500 crore.
There seems to be a growing political will within the state Government on the issue with both Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and Finance Minister Manpreet Badal being in favour of unbundling.
However,unwilling to take on the over 67,000-employee strong PSEB,especially in view of the paddy season beginning from June 10 and fearing disruption by its powerful employee unions,the CM has sought yet another extension for unbundling.
Like Kerala and Tripura,the PSEB Engineers Association has suggested converting the Board into one company by keeping transmission,distribution,and generation together and forming a separate trading entity. The state has to fulfil the provisions of the Act and we have given them a legally feasible model which will take care of the interests of the employees and ensure proper coordination of the three functions of transmission,distribution and generation, its president H S Bedi said.
The uncertainty on the legal status of the Board is sending out wrong signals to investors at a time when Punjab is inviting private players to install mega power plants in public-private partnership mode. After Punjab takes in-principle decision on unbundling,the entire process will take a minimum of six to eight months.
Share
