Dewan Extends Support To Ludhiana Industry’s September 8 Protest

Reliable power essential for industrial growth: Dewan

Former President of the District Congress Committee, Ludhiana (Urban) and former Chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board, Pawan Dewan, has extended his support to the industrial organisations of Ludhiana that have announced a protest against the prevailing power situation on September 8, saying that the concerns being raised by the industrial community deserve immediate attention from the Punjab Government and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

Asserting that the Congress fully stands with nearly 30 industrial and trade organisations, which are staging a massive protest under the banner of the Consortium of Trade & Industry against the prolonged and repeated power interruptions—particularly during evening hours that cripple manufacturing operations, disrupt production schedules and delay deliveries—Dewan strongly castigated the AAP government for the plight of Punjab’s industrial houses.

Dewan said that Ludhiana’s industrial sector is the backbone of the city’s economy and provides employment to a large number of people. “Reliable electricity is not merely an operational requirement for industry; it is fundamental to maintaining production, employment, investment and competitiveness. When power supply becomes uncertain, the impact goes far beyond a single factory. It affects workers, suppliers, customers and the entire industrial supply chain,” he said.

Dewan pointed out that industrial organisations have specifically raised concerns regarding production losses, disruption of machinery operations, increased operational costs and difficulties in meeting delivery commitments because of the continuing power curtailment. “Recent reports indicate that industrial feeders in Ludhiana and other industrial centres have faced power curtailment of several hours during the evening, with PSPCL attributing the situation to power shortages arising from outages and unavailability of generating units”, said Dewan, while adding that AAP government and PSPCL has miserably failed to meet the power demands of the industry.

Dewan argued that the government and PSPCL must engage directly with representatives of the industrial sector and work out a time-bound solution. He also emphasised the need for a predictable power-supply system so that manufacturers can plan production and fulfil commitments to customers without uncertainty. Dewan assured the industrial community that the concerns being raised by them would remain an important priority for the Congress. “Once the Congress forms the government in Punjab, strengthening industrial infrastructure, ensuring dependable power supply and creating a business environment conducive to investment and employment would receive due priority,” he reaffirmed.

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