Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has suspended Harish Sharma, the Chief Engineer of the thermal power plants at Ropar and Goindwal Sahib. AAP government’s zero tolerance policy against corruption comes under scrutiny.
SNPNEWS.IN News (Gurmail Kamboj): During the AAP government’s tenure in Punjab, scams and irregularities related to thermal plants (coal-based power generation plants) have continuously remained in the spotlight. These are primarily linked to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), where allegations of corruption have surfaced in electricity generation costs, coal procurement, tenders, and agreements with private plants.
Such allegations were also made during previous governments (Congress and Akali-BJP). The latest case under the 2022 AAP government occurred on November 1, 2025, when PSPCL’s new Chairman Basant Garg suspended Chief Engineer Harish Sharma of Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant (Ropar) and Guru Amardas Goindwal Sahib Thermal Plant after irregularities in fuel costs came to light, which is being termed a major “scam”.
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According to sources, instead of purchasing coal from private mines for electricity generation at these two government thermal plants, coal is being sourced from Punjab government’s own Pachwara coal mine in Jharkhand. It was estimated that after this coal supply, the Punjab government would gain significantly in electricity production, and both government thermal plants would operate at a substantial profit. However, a different “game of corruption” was being played in both plants. As a result, instead of producing electricity at a lower rate than private sector thermal plants, power was being generated at 75 paise to Rs 1.25 per unit higher.
Due to inflated fuel costs in both government plants compared to private plants, the department has reportedly suffered a loss of several crores of rupees.
This action is being viewed by employee unions as political interference. The Engineers’ Association has expressed strong resentment over this decision. The PCB Engineers’ Association has decided to meet Punjab’s Power Minister and Secretary Power in Chandigarh regarding this matter.
The total capacity of PSPCL and private thermal plants in Punjab is approximately 5,680 MW, including:
● Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant, Ropar: 1,260 MW
● Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabbat, Bathinda: 920 MW
● Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, Bathinda: 460 MW (closed, land sale controversy).
● Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL, private), Mansa: 1,980 MW
● Nabha Power Limited (NPL, private), Rajpura: 1,400 MW
● Guru Amardas Thermal Plant, Goindwal Sahib: 540 MW
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal, during an election rally in Tarn Taran on October 31, 2025, leveled serious allegations of large-scale corruption in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). The statement came in the context of the Tarn Taran by-election (where SAD candidate Principal Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa was being supported). Badal linked it to the “looters of Delhi”, saying the AAP government is destroying PSPCL and demanded an impartial inquiry.
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Sukhbir Badal claimed that the Punjab government and “Power Minister Sanjeev Arora are openly encouraging corruption in PSPCL.” Badal alleged that besides forcing PSPCL to sell its prime land (survey and sale plan of 40 properties in Ludhiana and Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant in Bathinda), Arora is interfering in tender distribution and posting corrupt officers to key positions. All this is aimed at ruining PSPCL, which was once number one at the government level.
Badal said that just yesterday (October 30), PSPCL’s Chairman and Managing Director A.K. Sinha was transferred. Why? Because he refused to implement illegal orders related to the 2,000 MW Power Purchase Agreement. This is a punitive step against an honest officer,