Efforts taken to ensure 7,798 MW power during DMK rule: Karuna

Joining issue with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa over blaming previous DMK government for power shortage in the state, party chief M Karunanidhi today said his government made efforts to ensure 7,798 MW power from different projects.
After the DMK came to power in 2006, various electricity generation projects including thermal power plants at Mettur, North Chennai and Udangudi were taken up, the DMK chief said.
"Considering the future demand, steps were taken to ensure 7,798 MW of power from various projects," Karunanidhi said in a letter to partymen.
During a meeting with members of the 14th Finance Commission here on Monday, Jayalalithaa had accused previous DMK government for being responsible for the power shortage in the state, saying there had been "perennial power shortage in Tamil Nadu from 2007 onward, particularly, in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and upto May 2011 when a different government was administering the state."

Responding to the Chief Minister's allegation, Karunanidhi recalled a statement made by then Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy in the state Assembly in 2007, saying the state was power surplus and selling electricity to Punjab and Maharashtra.
He asked how could the state sell power to others when itself would have been facing shortage.