Chandigarh, Nov 1 (IANS) In a bonanza to the people of Punjab ahead of Diwali, the Punjab Cabinet on Monday decided to reduce the power tariff to domestic sector consumers having connected load up to 7 KW by Rs 3 per unit.
With this, 69 lakh domestic consumers out of the total 71.75 lakh are going to get benefited, an official statement said.
The total annual financial burden on the state exchequer would be approximately Rs 3,316 crore due to this tariff rationalisation.
Existing free power facility up to 1 KW to the Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Classes and the below poverty line (BPL) categories will continue.
The state government will reduce the power procurement cost and it will be passed on to the consumers.
State-run PSPCL has issued termination of notice to GVK Thermal Plant at Goindwal Sahib. This costly power will be replaced with the low cost power from solar and other sources, said the statement.
The PSPCL has also issued default notice to Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant for failure to give proper supply during the last paddy season. This penalty amount works out to be in the range of Rs 600-800 crore.
It has allotted two solar companies to supply power to the tune of 250 MW at the record lowest rate of Rs 2.33 per unit. Similarly, PSPCL has allotted 150 MW of solar plants to be established within Punjab at the rate of Rs 2.69 per unit. These plants will be established in next eight months.
The state government has already waived off pending defaulting amount of consumers having connected load of less than 2 KW. With this the government is going to bear an expenditure of Rs 1500 crore and it will benefit 15 lakh consumers, especially the poor.
A day earlier, Customs officials had recovered 495 grams of gold valued at Rs 24.14 lakh from a passenger on his arrival from Dubai. The gold was concealed in various items like a blender, facial cream box, and sandals. A case for smuggling of gold was registered. Further investigation is in progress, an official said.
The survey, conducted in the five poll-bound states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, revealed that about 51 per cent respondents in Punjab are not satisfied at all with work of the MLA of their respective areas.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to Twitter regarding the spike in price of gas "The BJP government is increasing the price of LPG gas every month. The prices of petrol and diesel have been increased by 60-70 times in 3-4 months, but the price of sugarcane has not been increased in the past three years."
Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said on Thursday that the vaccine supply to the state has been accelerated, but the coverage of vaccination due beneficiaries remain critical for the successful impact of the vaccination drive.
The BSF jawans belonging to 136 Battalion posted near the Satpal border post observed three Pakistanis trying to sneak into the Indian territory at around 2.30 am.
"The #NurseMidwife4Change campaign conceptualised by and for nurses and midwives of India aims to bring to light their true profile, status and contribution in the country by creating awareness about the multiple roles they play as educationists, service providers, specialist and leaders.
