Punjab CM reviews power scenario in Sidhu’s absence

Chandigarh: As his Cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu is yet to take charge of his new Power portfolio, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday took crucial decisions relating to electricity shortage that was mainly affecting sowing of paddy in the state.
An ‘adamant’ Sidhu has not assumed the new charge since June 6 when he was divested of charge of Local Government and Tourism and Cultural Affairs portfolios in a cabinet reshuffle, the first after the Lok Sabha election results.
He has been given Power and New and Renewable Energy Sources.
Since then Sidhu has been in ‘hibernation’. He had met party President Rahul Gandhi, and party leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Ahmed Patel in New Delhi and apprised them of his position after he was divested of his key portfolios.
The Chief Minister has been monitoring the electricity situation over the past few weeks and this meeting was called to review the power situation and progress of other works relating to the Power Ministry, a senior official told IANS.
He said reports were coming from across the state over the power shortage that was mainly hampering the transplantation of paddy.