Punjab gets MORE 3 months time for unbundling PSEB
GAGANDEEP AHUJA
Punjab Newsline, 05 December 2009

PATIALA: A day after Punjab chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s meeting with Union Power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde centre has granted another three-month extension for unbundling Punjab State electricity Board (PSEB).

Sources said here on Saturday that Punjab has been granted three-month extension till March 15 for unbundling PSEB. PSEB chairman HS Brar was tightlipped on the issue and said, when contacted, it was matter between state government and centre government. We have not received an official communiqué in this regard yet, he added.

Sources however revealed that Punjab CM had pleaded to power minister Shinde that it will be a last extension and Punjab government will trifurcated PSEB into separate legal entities for generation, distribution and transmission functions.

After seven years it was mandated by the National Electricity Act, 2003, Punjab still remains one of the seven states resisting unbundling. While many of the non-complying states have taken the initial steps towards unbundling, Punjab has not taken even an in-principle decision.

Punjab has been able to get its 12th extension. Besides opposition from employees and farmers, the state has been citing inability to bear the burden from transfer of assets and liabilities of the PSEB, which is reeling under huge accumulated losses and debt. Punjab CM on his recent visit to city also hinted the amicable solution of it and had said that before jumping into on any conclusion government may build the confidence among the engineers and employees of PSEB.