Punjab not power surplus, says new Power Minister Kangar

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 26

Contrary to the claims by the previous government, Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy Sources Gurpreet Singh Kangar on Thursday categorically said that the state is not power-surplus.

The Rampura Phul MLA was here to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple along with family and supporters.

Kangar said, “They had been saying something, but the books show something else.” The minister said the claims by the previous government were false. He said the government is committed to providing enough electricity to farmers and households.

On the recent hike in electricity tariff, the minister said it was required as the government needed revenue.

Talking about the Chief Minister’s election promise to end drug menace in four weeks, Kangar claimed that the drug problem in Malwa had decreased by 80 per cent. “I can say about Malwa that the problem has reduced by 80 per cent,” he said, adding that about Majha a local minister could tell better.

He admitted that there is widespread corruption in his department. “It has been just two days for me. But I would surely work to check it,” he said.