{
  "id": 7004542,
  "title": "Power cuts paralyse Punjab rice mills; Opon. slams AAP over ‘Roshan Punjab’ promise",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/power-cuts-paralyse-punjab-rice-mills-opon-slams-aap-over-roshan",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T22:19:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/punjab/power-cuts-paralyse-punjab-rice-mills-opon-slams-aap-over-roshan-punjab-promise/article71460277.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rice mills across Punjab have been crippled by power cuts, leading to chaos in both the market yards and the mills themselves. The Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters Association has blamed the unscheduled power cuts for the crisis, stating that it has prevented them from drying and processing the daily influx of Basmati paddy (rice) arriving in the markets of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Gurdaspur and other districts. The Association's director, Ashok Sethi, urged the State government to restore normal power supply immediately to avoid a catastrophic impact on farmers and rice exporters.\n\nThe Punjab Power Minister, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, admitted that Punjab is receiving 1,051 MW less power than its share from the Central Power pool. He appealed to the Centre to provide Punjab its due share of electricity.\n\nThe Opposition has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to deliver on its 'Roshan Punjab' campaign promise of 24-hour uninterrupted power supply by 2026. Partap Singh Bajwa, leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, questioned how the government could backtrack from its campaign pledge. The Congress party also criticized AAP's handling of the state power corporation, alleging mismanagement and financial mishandling, which has contributed to the current electricity crisis. Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar added his voice to the criticism, claiming that the AAP government's so-called 'electricity revolution' was exposed as a failure.",
  "summary": "In a statement, Punjab Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said Punjab is currently receiving 1,051 MW less power against its share from the Central Power pool. The Centre should immediately provide Punjab its due share, he added",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "From four hours to 14: Punjab industry bears brunt as power crisis deepens",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/from-four-hours-to-14-punjab-industry-bears-brunt-as-power-crisis",
        "published": "2026-09-12T16:50:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}