N-plant a must for Punjab, says Kanwaljit

  The need of a nuclear power plant in the state has found another strong advocate in the Punjab Cabinet. Minister for cooperatives in an exclusive interview to The Tribune here today said a nuclear power plant had become inevitable for the state in view of the growing power demand and limited natural resources for power generation available with the state.The Punjab Cabinet had given an indication to the Union Government in this regard.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh is the second minister who has endorsed that the Punjab government has given its ascent to a nuclear power plant in the state. Earlier, the minister for irrigation had given a statement in this regard. He, however, retracted from the statement the very next day.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh said if the people of Patran were resisting the plant, alternative sites could be found in other parts.

He added that the Pakistan threat to nuclear power plant in the state was also a misconception. The nuclear power plant in Punjab would in fact act as a deterrent to an attack on the state.

He further said the SAD-BJP was preparing for mid-term parliamentary elections. The marriage of convenience between the Congress and the Left had lapsed and exposed the fundamental ideological differences between the two.

The SAD had started asking its workers to get ready for mid-term elections, he added.

The aim of the Punjab government was to achieve 8 per cent growth for which it requires an investment of Rs 10,000 crore.

Since such heavy investment could not be generated from Budget, a public-private participation was inevitable, Capt further said.