Bathinda,
Though Sukhbir Singh Badal, president, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal),
had announced that the cotton belt of the state would be
developed as the power hub of the state, the existing
thermal plants in the district, one at Lehra Mohabbat and
another at Bathinda, are facing problems. The extent of the
problem is such that if not rectified soon, the whole cotton
belt might reel under huge power crisis in the upcoming
paddy season.
At the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP), Bathinda,
one of the two 132/66 KV 50 MVA (Mega Volt Ampere)
transformers is out of order for the past month. “This
transformer was installed when the GNDTP came into
existence, some 35 years back. On one side, Sukhbir is
boasting of converting this area into power capital of the
state and on the other, no heed is paid to the problems
faced by the existing thermal plants,” experts at the
GNDTP feel.
Even the unit III of the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant,
Lehra Mohabbat, is not producing power as it has been shut
down because the coal bunkers had got empty.
According to highly placed sources at the GNDTP, “The
50 MVA transformer at the thermal plant is out of order for
the past one month and only the 50 MVA transformer is
working at present. Even the Chief Minister, on his last
visit to the city, had spoken to the chairman of the Punjab
State Electricity Board (PSEB) to change the transformer.
But nothing has been done till date.”
Sources revealed, “Last summer, the two 50 MVA, each
transformers at the GNDTP, were overloaded and working at a
load of 110 MVA. So, we had written to the PSEB for getting
another 100 MVA transformer installed so that it could
reduce the burden of the existing transformers. Instead of
getting another transformer installed, they did not even get
the out of transformer replaced.”
A.S. Mokha, chief engineer, GNDTP, said, “For this
purpose, we are having a meeting at Bathinda and very soon
the transformer will be replaced.”
But sources feel that the PSEB is taking time in
replacing this transformer because they don’t have a new
transformer with them.
Speaking on phone from New Delhi, Y.S. Ratra, chairman,
PSEB, said, “I am aware of the problem and very soon this
transformer would be replaced.”
Ayurvedic
varsity awaits Cabinet’s nod
Our Correspondent
Bathinda,
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said today that a special
meeting had been convened in Delhi on November 23 to discuss
the construction of the proposed highway from Anandpur Sahib
to Nanded in Maharashtra. The meeting would also discuss the
Gurgaddi Purb celebrations of Guru Granth Sahib.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil will preside over the
meeting in which the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra will also take part.
Badal, accompanied by his wife, was in the city to attend
a marriage ceremony.
In a short interaction with mediapersons, he said, “The
state government has been trying its best to provide basic
amenities to the people.” Giving details about the plans
for celebrating the purb, Badal said, “Anandpur Sahib and
Talwandi Sabo will be given special consideration from the
development point of view.” On the increased price for
wheat, the Chief Minister said it had been done to motivate
the farmers.
Director-general of police N.P.S. Aulakh was also present
at the function.
Ayurvedic
varsity awaits Cabinet’s nod
Our Correspondent
Bathinda,
A proposal to establish a separate ayurvedic university in
the state is awaiting green signal of the state Cabinet.
Minister for medical education Tikshan Sud told The Tribune
here today that the detailed proposal for setting up the
university had been prepared for listing it in the Cabinet
agenda.
He said the land for this purpose had been identified in
the foothills of the Himalayan range in Hoshiarpur. Ayurveda
and other indigenous systems of medicine will be de-linked
from the Faridkot-based Baba Farid University of Medical
Sciences and assigned to the ayurvedic university. The Baba
Farid University will thereafter deal only with allopathic
system of medicine.
He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had personally
approved the idea of setting up the university, but the seal
of the Cabinet was necessary for the purpose.
Sud said the Draft Act of the proposed university had
also been prepared in consultation with the Law Department
and other agencies.
He said the setting up of ayurvedic universities in all
BJP-ruled states was the policy of the party. The idea to
set up the university here was mooted as the BJP is a
partner of the ruling coalition in the state.
Sud said the proposed university would not only control
the existing government and private ayurvedic institutions,
but would also give a push to the ancient system of medicine
in a big way.
Expressing concern over the continuing shortage of
teaching faculty in the three medical colleges of the state
government, he said steps were being taken to meet the
challenge. He appreciated the privately run institutions
that were supporting the medical requirements in the state.
