New Delhi, September 6
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today met Mr Brajesh Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, seeking deferment of payments by the state agencies to the coal companies and Railways, funds for the Anandpur Sahib Project and enhanced minimum support price in the coming crop season. The Chief Minister later met Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Capt Amarinder Singh sought the Centre’s help in ensuring continuous supply of coal to the thermal power plants in the state. He stressed that the state was left with only six days stock of coal against the stipulated requirement of 22 days and Punjab would plunge into a power crisis if the delivery of coal was stopped. The state agencies owe huge arrears on railway freight charges and supply of coal and the Chief Minister said that dues could not be cleared immediately.

Talking to The Tribune here, he said the state had recently overcome an agricultural crisis. He said any stoppage of coal supplies, as threatened by the coal companies, could result in a “black-out” in the state. “The state is paying Rs 400 crore to purchase power from outside agencies,” he said, adding that it was also spending a matching amount on power subsidy to the “non-paying sector.”

The Centre, it is learnt, promised to take up the state’s demands with the ministries concerned.

He also took up the Anandpur Sahib Project with the Centre on which Rs 50 crore had been spent of the allocated Rs 200 crore. The Chief Minister sought early release of the pending amount so that the project could be completed.

Asked about the state government’s response to the recommendations of the Punjab State Regulatory Commission on power tariff, the Chief Minister said the recommendations of the “quasi-judicial body were binding on the state government.”

He said the recommendations would be discussed by the state Cabinet next week.

The Chief Minister, however, hinted that concessions to the agriculture sector would continue and the government could subsidise the Punjab State Electricity Board for the losses it would incur. He said farmers of the state were passing through a difficult phase and the state government would see how to assist them till they recover.

During his meeting with Mrs Gandhi, the Chief Minister apprised her of his visit to the USA and the UK and the drought situation in the state.