Setback for Mukerian thermal project
Umesh Dewan/TNS

Patiala, June 27
In what is being alleged as a deliberate attempt to scuttle the proposed 1,320-MW thermal power plant project at Mukerian, Hoshiarpur, the state government has referred the proposal back to the PSPCL. The government has sought clarification from the utility on the financial aspects of the project, particularly from where the money for the plant would come.

According to Power Corporation officials, the proposal sent to the Punjab Government clearly mentioned that 90 per cent of the project cost would be borne by the Power Finance Corporation and the rest by the PSPCL.

The president of the PSEB Engineers’ Association, HS Bedi, said, “Referring the proposal back to the PSPCL on frivolous grounds has made it clear that instead of setting up a power project under the state sector, the government is more interested in awarding the power generation projects to private players via MoU route, which is not in the interests of the state and consumers.”