SNE NETWORK.CHANDIGARH.
The Indian Army has demanded 300 units of free electricity every month from the Punjab government for its personnel posted in the state. This has put the government in trouble. Because it is grappling with the heavy burden of domestic electricity subsidy. In a letter sent to the state government, the South Western Command of the Indian Army has argued that although the state government is giving 300 units of free electricity to domestic consumers from July 2022.
But it has not been extended to military personnel and defense civilians living in married accommodation in cantonments and military stations of Punjab. On the other hand, Punjab government officials say that free electricity subsidy cannot be given to those living in cantonments and military stations. Because these stations are supplied with huge amount of electricity.
The subsidy is given to individual domestic consumers. The Indian Army also argues that the same facility of free electricity given by the Delhi government is also given to the military personnel posted there. This demand is now being discussed at the top level of the state government.
One lakh soldiers deployed in Punjab
There are more than one lakh soldiers deployed in Punjab at present. All officers and junior commissioned officers are authorised to stay with their families, as are 35% of the jawans. In addition, a large number of civilian employees of the Ministry of Defence deployed in army formations are also eligible to stay in military stations.
Since the state government’s total domestic power subsidy bill is already expected to be Rs 8,785 crore, which is Rs 1,550 crore more than the previous financial year, adding thousands more domestic families for free power will increase the financial difficulties of PSPCL.
Demand for free power in 5 districts
The state government is struggling to pay power subsidy to PSPCL given its own poor financial condition. As of November 13, only Rs 4,508.2 crore of the total subsidy to be paid by the state government for free domestic power had been paid. Out of the total subsidy bill of Rs 20,477 crore, Rs 11,401.26 crore has been paid. Apart from the subsidy of Rs 200 crore given to PSPCL this month, the state government has also given them grant-in-aid of Rs 2,387 crore.
However, this demand has been made only by the South Western Command, whose structures are located in Bathinda and some other places in the Malwa region of Punjab. But if the government gives free power to it, then it will also have to give free power to the structures located in Jalandhar, Ferozepur, Patiala, Amritsar and Pathankot.