Chandigarh, November 26
Describing the facility of free household electricity as a boon for the people of state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said that more than 95 percent of the families in the state will get zero electricity bills in the coming months, which will give major relief to them.
Addressing the gathering during a function to distribute appointment letters to 603 newly recruited cleared and Junior Engineers of the Punjab State Electricity Corporation here today, the Chief Minister said that the government is providing 600 units of free electricity to the people in every cycle. He said that for the first time 86 percent of the households in Punjab have received zero electricity bill. Bhagwant Mann asserted that more than 95 percent of households will benefit from free electricity facility in the coming months.
The Chief Minister said that this major move is a big relief for domestic consumers, who till now have to shell out hefty money every month to pay their power bills. He further said that the state government delivers whatever it promises adding that actions done with good intentions always yield good results. Bhagwant Mann said that Punjabis had never even dreamt that the electricity bill of their homes will come to zero.
However, the Chief Minister said that due to strenuous efforts of the state government this has became a reality today. He said that this has also helped in reducing power consumption also as several families in the state have started using less power so that they can avail 600 units of free electricity. Making another big announcement, Bhagwant Mann said that massive efforts are being made to enhance the production of electricity in the state.
The Chief Minister said that due to massive efforts made by the state government, the coal mine allotted in Jharkhand near Pachwara has become operational and coal supply from it will begin in the first week of December. He said that this will further increase power generation in Punjab. Bhagwant Mann bemoaned that this mine was closed since 2015 but none of the previous governments bothered to get it operational.
The Chief Minister also said that the state government is also making all out efforts to make the government buildings of the state self-sufficient in terms of power. He said that solar energy panels will be installed in all government buildings, which will reduce the burden of electricity bills on the government and will save a lot of money.
On this occasion, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister A. Venu Prasad, PSPCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Baldev Singh Saran and others were also present.
