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ShareChandigarh: Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to allocate 250 MW of additional power to the state to ensure uninterrupted water supply so as to facilitate wheat-sowing in the Rabi season.
In a letter written to Shinde, the chief minister said, "Punjab farmers are now preparing for sowing of wheat but they are not getting adequate water because neither we are able to ensure 8 hours of power supply nor is there sufficient water in Bhakhra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar reservoirs".
It has been estimated that to ensure eight hours of uninterrupted power for wheat sowing, the state needs additional power of 500 MW. The State Power Department has already made a request in this regard to the Ministry of Power.
Badal impressed upon Shinde to accede to the request by bringing to his notice that Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) was supplying 380 MW power for border fence lighting, defence requirements and agriculture pump sets, which are located within 16 kms of the International border with Pakistan.
He pointed out that the PSEB would be unable to maintain this supply if they do not get additional power.
