Punjab will not face power shortage from May 1, says minister Sanjeev Arora

The article published on April 28 reiterates Arora’s claim of no power shortage from May 1, notes ongoing infrastructure strengthening under Mission Roshan Punjab, and references national demand pressures and the ED raids, along with the AAP-BJP political developments relevant to the broader energy discussion.

Power Minister Sanjeev Arora stated there would be no power shortage from May 1, citing a surge in demand from 7,900 MW on April 15 to 12,000 MW by April 25. He highlighted Mission Roshan Punjab’s ₹6,000 crore investment to modernise the power infrastructure, planned 300 MW additional hydel capacity from restoration of 2025 flood-damaged plants, and negotiations for 1,500–2,000 MW of additional power through banking with other states. He said Punjab intends to draw 2,000 MW from the Central power pool with competitive short-term tenders, and announced a two-month waiver of wheeling charges and cross-subsidy from 6 pm to 6 am. He also addressed ED inquiries and reiterated his intent to stay with the AAP.

Nationally, power demand reached an all-time peak of 252 GW on April 24, with available supply around 239 GW, creating a 13 GW deficit.

Seven of the AAP’s 10 Rajya Sabha members quit and merged with the BJP, alleging the party had strayed from its principles; six of the seven MPs were from Punjab.

The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at the premises of power minister Sanjeev Arora, his son and others in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Gurugram and Chandigarh as part of a foreign exchange violation probe linked to alleged insider trading and round-tripping of betting funds from the UAE to India.