Patiala, September 14: Punjab Congress president Aamrinder Singh Raja Warring on Sunday led a massive protest by Congress workers against the Aam Aadmi Party government over the power crisis in the state, alleging that corruption, mismanagement and political interference in the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) had aggravated the situation.
A heavy police contingent stopped thousands of Congress workers from reaching the PSPCL office, with barricades erected along the route.
Addressing the protesters, Warring alleged that the power crisis was “man-made” and a direct result of the AAP government’s mismanagement. He questioned the appointment of outgoing PSPCL Chairman Basant Garg, alleging that the government had changed the rules to accommodate a non-technocrat despite technical expertise being a basic requirement for the post.
Warring further claimed that Garg had been given multiple positions but attended office for only 20 days during the nearly 300 days he remained chairman.
The Punjab Congress chief also accused the government of appointing an allegedly ineligible person as Director Generation after removing incumbent Harjit Singh. He alleged that Singh was targeted after refusing to follow “AAP diktats” and was subsequently hounded by the Vigilance Bureau.
According to Warring, the change was intended to accommodate a preferred candidate from Ludhiana. He alleged that the decisions taken during former Power Minister Sanjeev Arora’s tenure contributed to the deterioration of PSPCL’s functioning.
Warring said the corporation had failed to adequately anticipate power demand despite forecasts of a poor monsoon and had not made sufficient arrangements for the agriculture sector.
Rejecting the explanation that the crisis was caused by a shortage of coal, he said Punjab had its own coal mine and alleged that reduced generation at the Lehra Mohabbat and Ropar plants was linked to an employees’ strike stemming from what he described as the government’s failure to fulfil its promises.
Warring also levelled allegations regarding the cost of power procurement, claiming that electricity which was being purchased at around Rs 5 per unit a few years ago was now being procured at Rs 8.10 per unit. He alleged that brokers from Delhi were being used instead of direct procurement.
