Amid the power crisis snowballing into a major political row, Punjab's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Monday replaced Besant Garg, the incumbent principal secretary of Power and Renewable Energy Sources, with senior IAS officer Gurkirat Kirpal Singh. Punjab currently faces more than 13 hours of industrial power outages on a daily basis. The shutdown of its two major thermal plants and a power demand of 16,500 MW have further strained the state's power supply.
According to an order issued by Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, Singh has also been handed the position of Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). Singh is a 2001-batch senior IAS officer.
Mounting pressure on AAP govt
The Punjab government’s bureaucratic reshuffle is in the context of increasing pressure to meet the energy demands of the state. The public, industries, and the agricultural sector face prolonged power cuts. Currently, industrial power outages extend up to 14 hours, while domestic sectors across rural and urban regions face unscheduled outages.
The power demand surge to approximately 16,500 MW has further widened the gap between supply and requirement. Meanwhile, the state’s internal power generation is only approximately 4,300 MW. To compensate for this deficit, PSPCL has depended heavily on central grid purchases exceeding 11,000 MW.
Yet the woes continue for the state as its two major private thermal units remain non-operational, while reportedly state-owned thermal plants face a shortage in coal stocks. This led to an emergency meeting, convened by PSPCL, to review the state’s fuel supply and to advance procurement strategies. The newly appointed principal secretary, Singh, will face the demand for stabilising grid supply and managing energy procurement.
Meanwhile, Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, speaking to the media, denied the coal shortage at the government-owned thermal power plants. Furthermore, Sond criticised the Union government for not providing the state its share of energy allocation.
Opposition parties criticise the state government over alleged poor administration. Mounting pressure also comes from industrial as well as farmers’ associations. Industrial associations have threatened to move their businesses out of Punjab if the energy scarcity continues. Meanwhile, farmers’ associations are conducting protests across the state. It is also worth noting that the AAP-led government faces these issues ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
