PATIALA: Citing a spilt in opinion amongst politicians, industrialists, farmers and industrialists over the unbundling of the Punjab state Electricity Board, the state government has sent yet another missive to the union power ministry seeking a six-month extension. 

In the letter which is addressed to Anand Rajdan, secretary power government of India , the state government has stated that it was not feasible to go ahead with the unbundling of the PSEB by December 9, which was the deadline for unbundling of the board. The government has sought that the deadline be extended till June 9, next year. The state government has already sought nine extensions since the time the Electricity Act of 2003 was put into force. 

Sources said for unbundling, no employee of the PSEB would be either retrenched or removed. Offer will be made to each employee to sign a tripartite agreement on the Gujarat pattern with the state government and company concerned with regard to security of service and related benefits etc. There would be provision in the agreement for no further unbundling of the companies, which would be set up after trifurcation of the board, without the approval of the Vidhan Sabha. 

Earlier reports of consultants would be updated, sources said. As there would be a minute scrutiny of accounts, several irregularities and mistakes in calculations of financial and distribution losses may come to light in the process. 

Sources said if the PSEB was unbundled, the newly formed companies would have to make a fresh beginning. There could be financial loss to the state in case the PSEB is not unbundled, sources added. 

The Union Government has kept Rs 50,000 crore for the accelerated power development and reform programme which is to be distributed among the states which would order power reforms from 2007 to 2012. No grant will be available to the state from these funds in case it defaulted on power reforms front.