As Punjab’s power utility grapples with a funds crunch owing to subsidies to the tune of Rs 54 crore every day, a Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) employee has written to the government saying he wants to give up his power subsidy.
Karamjeet Singh, Private Secretary to Chief Engineer (MM), PSPCL, Patiala Division, has written a letter to the chairperson of PSPCL stating that he was getting zero bills on two power meters installed on his and his wife’s names. But he wants to pay the bill as he was concerned about the loan taken by the power utility.
Unable to sustain the burden of subsidy, PSPCL, it is learnt, had to borrow Rs 500 crore to pay the salaries of its employees. As the state government has not given any option to consumers to opt out of subsidy, 88.15 per cent of residents got zero power bills in January.
