Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal has addressed the media by announcing plans of setting up a 1,320-MW coal-based thermal plant in the village of Nalas, Rajpura if offered by the centre.
His aims are for Punjab to become a power-surplus state within the next four years. The super thermal plant in Talwandi Sabo which produces 1,980 MW and the 540 MW thermal plants in Goindwal Sahib are near completion. The Rajpura plant had delays due to legal issues and would be set up on a 1,080 acre plot of land, this would cost roughly 9,00 crore (£1.3 billion).
The government also stated that they want to increase the amount of non-conventional and renewable sources of energy. In 2007 that sector generated 65 MW and now installed 29 mini biomass power plants increasing the total generation to 202 MW, their aim is to increase this to 400 MW within the next few years.
The Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal said the state government would be able to pass on the benefit of supplying power to consumers at a reduced rate. This would make the state have the cheapest rates in the country.
The Chairman and MD of Larsen & Toubro, A.M Naik is aiming to have this project completed by January 2014. He also said the company would also invest about Rs 4,500 core for setting up an additional unit of 660 MW at the Rajpura thermal plant.
Well-known among others who were present on the occasion were Manoranjan Kalia, district SAD President, Patiala, Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur, Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, SAD Secretary-General, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Administrative member, PSEB, Gurbachan Singh Bachi.