The News Freedom
Chandigarh, February 8
Punjab’s Power Minister, Harbjajan Singh, announced on Thursday that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, alongside Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, will unveil the Guru Amardas Thermal Power Limited (GATPL) in Goindwal on February 11, according to a press release. Singh revealed that Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) formally incorporated GATPL on January 12, with the acquisition process finalized by February 7, thus making GVK Power (Goindwal Sahib) Limited a wholly owned subsidiary of GATPL. The thermal power plant, now named the Sri Guru Amardas Thermal Power Plant after the third Sikh Guru, is under the ownership of the Punjab Government, Singh confirmed.
Singh highlighted that this acquisition will resolve multiple cases filed by GVK Power (Goindwal Sahib) Limited, amounting to around Rs 3000 Crores in liabilities. This move is expected to alleviate sudden tariff shocks for the residents of Punjab, Singh emphasized, with a subsequent reduction in overall tariff anticipated to benefit end-consumers and improve power availability across the state.
Singh further disclosed ongoing negotiations with the Union Ministry of Power to ensure the availability of coal from the Pachhwara Mine, aiming for efficient and cost-effective plant operation. This initiative is projected to yield annual savings of approximately 300 crores for the state. The thermal power plant, sprawling across 1100 acres of land, has utilized around 700 acres for project construction, leaving approximately 400 acres unused.