Punjab CM Amarinder seeks Centre’s nod to sell surplus power to Pakistan
Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support in allowing the state government to sell its surplus power to Pakistan or Nepal. The CM had an hour-long meeting with PM in New Delhi.
Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support in allowing the state government to sell its surplus power to Pakistan or Nepal. The CM had an hour-long meeting with PM in New Delhi.
Amarinder also sought the Centre’s support in making agriculture more sustainable for the farmers in the state by putting in place a deficiency price payment mechanism to encourage a shift to non-paddy cultivation, media adviser to CM Raveen Thukral said.
Pointing to the 1,000-MW surplus power availability in Punjab after meeting its demand, the CM said sale of power to neighbouring Pakistan or Nepal would help Punjab generate additional revenues.
He said Punjab shares border with Pakistan and its Goindwal Sahib thermal power plant is situated close to the international border.
Referring to the plight of the state’s farmers, the chief minister stressed the need for diversification of farming away from paddy, helping the farmers to opt for growing maize. He also demanded higher compensation for farmers from the current Rs 10,000 per acre per annum.
Amarinder also expressed concern over reports of the ongoing efforts to revive the package of concessions for the neighbouring States of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, and urged Modi to intervene to ensure that no such special package is given at the cost of Punjab or a special package be given to the state also.
CM MEETS IT MINISTER
Union minister for law and justice and information technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday invited Punjab to be a part of the digital India revolution and suggested several ways for the state to raise the bar of development and generate employment.