Punjab offers uninterrupted power supply to IT firms

Chandigarh: The Punjab government is offering various sops to information technology (IT) companies operating in the state, including a 24-hour uninterrupted power supply, in order to boost the sector, a government official said here Wednesday.

"No economy can grow only on the shoulders of agriculture and we have to give a boost to the IT and service sector. We have to increase software exports from Punjab," S.S. Channy, Principal Secretary of industries and commerce, told reporters.

He added that the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) "will offer an assortment of benefits like release of new connections, extension of load, exemptions from peak load hours restrictions and no power cuts to the IT companies establishing their base here".

This announcement comes at a time when the state is struggling to deal with an acute power shortage.

PSEB has imposed a weekly power cut of 72 hours on general industries in the state.

Besides, there is a daily power cut of eight to 16 hours across the state.

Channy said the government was looking at tying up with private companies to increase power generation.

"We are working in this direction and planning to tie up with some private companies that would generate power in their own plants and distribute across the state," he said