Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday announced a major relief for domestic electricity consumers by launching a 45-day One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, under which the government will waive the entire interest and penalty imposed on outstanding electricity bills up to March 31, 2026.

Under the scheme, consumers will be required to pay only the principal amount of their pending electricity bills, without any additional interest or penalty.

Announcing the scheme, Mann said it would remain in force for 45 days. Consumers will have to deposit 25% of the outstanding principal amount initially, while the remaining 75% can be paid in two instalments, with a gap of six months between them.

The scheme is expected to benefit around 24.86 lakh domestic electricity consumers across Punjab. Against total outstanding dues of ₹2,516 crore, the government will waive ₹518 crore in penalties and interest.

Mann Takes a Dig at Delhi Over Pollution, Defends Punjab

During the announcement, Mann also addressed the issue of air pollution in Delhi and the allegations linking Punjab to the national capital's deteriorating air quality.

He claimed that smoke from Punjab could reach Delhi only when winds blow at a speed of 100 kmph, and even under such conditions, it would take three days to reach the national capital.

Mann said Punjab was being blamed for Delhi's pollution even before the state's paddy harvesting season had been completed. He remarked that allegations about smoke from Punjab reaching Delhi had started surfacing when paddy harvesting in the state was not even over.

Chief Minister further claimed that his government had fulfilled even those promises that were not formally included in its list of guarantees.

Mann Says Investigation Into Threat to Kejriwal Is Underway

Reacting to the alleged threat received by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Mann said that an investigation into the matter was underway.

He also targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that central agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department are deployed in states where elections are scheduled.

Mann's remarks came amid the ongoing investigation into the alleged threat to Kejriwal.