Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Punjab Power Crisis Prompts AAP Government Bureaucratic Reshuffle
Punjab is having trouble supplying enough electricity to homes, villages, and businesses.
The state’s electricity demand has become very high, reaching 16,619 megawatts.
At the same time, the amount of electricity Punjab can produce has fallen.
Some factories have experienced power cuts lasting as long as 14 hours.
Two private power plants shut down units, making the shortage worse.
Coal shortages and technical problems have also limited electricity production.
To respond, the Punjab government changed the senior official in charge of the power department.
Gurkirat Kirpal Singh will now oversee the department and two major state power companies.
Gurkirat Kirpal Singh replaced Basant Garg as Punjab’s principal secretary for Power and Renewable Energy Sources.
Singh was also appointed chairman-cum-managing director of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited.
Garg was shifted to Industries and Commerce, Investment Promotion and Information Technology after being relieved of his power-related charges.
Punjab’s peak power demand has reached 16,619 MW, while available generation capacity has fallen to about 5,680 MW.
Shutdowns at two private thermal plants caused an estimated 1,360 MW shortfall amid coal shortages and technical problems.
- Who
- The Punjab government, senior IAS officers Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and Basant Garg, and Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond are central to the development.
- What
- The Aam Aadmi Party government changed its power secretary and reassigned leadership of two state power corporations amid worsening electricity shortages.
- When
- The reshuffle was announced Monday; the article also reports that demand is currently 16,619 MW.
- Where
- Punjab, including industrial areas in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Mohali.
- Why
- The change comes amid rising demand, reduced generation capacity, coal shortages, technical problems and prolonged power cuts.
- New power secretary
- Gurkirat Kirpal Singh
- Outgoing power secretary
- Basant Garg
- Current peak demand
- 16,619 MW
- Available generation capacity
- About 5,680 MW, down from around 6,580 MW
- Private-plant shortfall
- Around 1,360 MW after units at two private thermal power plants shut down
- Reported industrial outages
- Up to 14 hours in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Mohali
- Government explanation
- Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond cited rising demand, inadequate generation, coal shortages and technical problems, and blamed the Centre for the coal crisis.