TN power crisis will be addressed by end of 2013, says CM

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today once again assured that the power crisis in the state will come to end by 2013.

Replying to the opposition during the Zero Hour in the Assembly today, she said the crisis would be over even by June next year and came heavily on the previous DMK regime, Union Government and Coal India.

The chief Minister said, the DMK Government did not enter into CASE-1 bidding for purchase of power from other states and the Centre's failure to provide power corridor are the cause for the current power crisis in the state.

It may be noted that the state is facing power shortage of around 4,000 mega watt. The power cut ranges from 2 hours to eight hours and in some rural parts it even goes upto ten hours.

The Chief Minister further said during her last regime between 1991 and 1996 and 2001 and 2006 steps were taken to install power capacity to produce 1302 MW and 2518 MW respectively. However, during the DMK regime, from 2006 to 2011, only 206 MW capacity power plant were installed.

While coming heavily on the Union Government, the Chief Minister, said it is not supporting the state in any manner to address the issue. Several request including allotment of 1000 MW from Kudankulam Nuclear Power plant, new transmission corridor, to allot the excess power surrendered by the Delhi Government were not addressed till, said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister also said Coal India is not supplying the required coal for Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB's) power plants. While the Union Government is not allowing to enter fuel supply agreement for the upcoming plants of TNEB, Coal India supplies only 70 per cent of the requirement to the existing plants.

“The Environment Ministry is also delaying to clear projects,” said the Chief Minister. It may be noted the Ministry is headed by Jayanthi Natarajan, who hails from Tamil Nadu.

Further the Chief Minister, by end of December 2012, 600 MW from Mettur, 500 MW from Vallur will be ready. By end of 2013 from various projects the state would get around 4385 MW.

Taking future requirements, the state government is planning to implement projects which can generate around 6120 MW, said the Chief Minister.