On Wednesday, Congress MLA and Former minister Navjot Singh Sidhu again tweeted on the electricity issue and targeted SAD as well as AAP. In a series of 6 tweets Sidhu said, “Politics without work on Policy is merely negative campaigning & Politicians without a Pro-People Agenda are here just for business !! Thus, Politics without Development has No meaning to Me… Today, I emphasize again that we need a Punjab Model for the development of Punjab.”
He continued saying, “Won’t blame Badals for having No vision because I know they don’t ! Today Solar Energy is Rs 1.99 per unit, with other benefits i.e renewable, available onsite (solar tube-well) etc. But Badal-signed faulty PPAs have tied Punjab to Thermal power paying much higher for decades. No Delhi Model ! Delhi does not generate its own Power & distribution is in hands of Reliance & TATA. Whereas, Punjab generates 25% of its own Power & distributes through State-owned Corp, providing employment to thousands. Delhi Model means bigger private players than Badals.”
He further tweeted, “Punjab gives 10% of its Budget (Rs 10,668 Crore) power subsidy but Delhi gives 4% of its Budget (Rs 3080 Crore). Apart from Agriculture, Punjab gives 15 Lakh families (SC, BC & BPL) 200 Units completely free, But Delhi charges 50% <400 & complete bill for all above 400 Units. Delhi does not provide free Power to Farmers & Domestic subsidy is given by heavily burdening Industry & Commercial sector. Punjab Model means cancelling faulty PPAs, producing & purchasing cheap/sustainable Power, decrease transmission costs to give subsidised power for all.”
He summed up saying, “Now, the big question- Can Minister for Power, New & Renewable Energy Punjab do any of this? Not even 1%. All decision-making powers are with PSERC directly reporting to CM. Thus, I invested my time in Punjab Model to chart the path to return People’s Power back to the People.”