Panjab Boosts Power Supply, Industry Adopts Artificial Intelligence

Panjab power minister Harbhajan Singh announced a 13% increase in electricity supply by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), which delivered 66,914M units from 1 Apr 2024 to 19 Jan 2025. Highlighting robust coal stocks—42 days at Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Plant (GGSTP), Roopnagar; 28 at Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP), Bathinda; and 40 at Guru Amardas Thermal Plant (GATP), Goindwal Sahib—he attributed the growth to continuous infrastructure improvements. Even as Singh prepared for a 21 Jan review meeting on Public Works Department projects, a separate controversy erupted at Patiala’s Rajindra Hospital, where a video of a power outage during surgery went viral on social media. The incident drew criticism from Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravneet Singh Bittu, who questioned Aam Aadmi Party claims about healthcare reforms. Panjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh, however, called the outage a momentary local fault and said the patient was safe. He noted that CM Bhagwant Singh Mann had earlier provided funds for extra hotlines, though doctors recalled another outage in July 2024. Meanwhile, Panjab’s industries are increasingly embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI), with Ludhiana-based manufacturers integrating AI sensors for quality checks and businesses exploring AI-driven chatbots, voice biomarkers for mental health, and AI-enabled water supply systems. According to Investment Promotion Secretary DPS Kharbanda, the government is facilitating AI adoption across Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), aided by a USD 13.8M allocation under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance initiative. Rini Singh, a consultant and strategist says, ‘AI-driven solutions increase productivity by 15–20% in sectors like textiles and food processing. AI monitoring equipment health, reducing downtime and operational costs by offering a reduction of 20-30 per cent in operation costs.’