Power crisis in UP, Tamil Nadu figures in RS

Raising the issue of Uttar Pradesh during Zero Hour, Naresh Agarwal (SP) accused the Centre of adopting stepmotherly treatment with the state as it needed 6,000 MW of power but was getting hardly 4,800 MW leading to severe shortage.

At the same time, power plants in the state including those in government sector, are not getting adequate coal for production, he said.

The Centre has assured these plants including Rosa power plant and Lanco supply of at least 65 per cent of their coal requirement but they are "not even getting 40 per cent," he said.

He said the Centre was not even following the pact in regard to Dadri power plant that has said 25 per cent of the electricity generated will be supplied to Uttar Pradesh.

Drawing the attention of the Centre towards power crisis in Tamil Nadu, K P Ramalingam (DMK) said the state was virtually reeling under darkness as there was no power supply for up to 20 hours daily.

"Twenty-four textile mills and 5,000 industrial units out of 40,000 have closed down in the state and 50 lakh labourers have lost their jobs," he said.

Seeking Centre's intervention, he said, "Government says people will have to bear with the situation till next June. This is injustice. I urge Government of India to direct the state to take immediate steps. DMK has convened a nationwide strike tomorrow."

AIADMK members stood up and objected to his remarks.

Sanjeev Kumar (JMM) raised the issue of pollution in Dhanbad and Maithon areas due to transportation of coal to 1000 MW Maithon Power Ltd, a joint venture between Tata Power and DVC.

He said 11,000 tonnes of coal were being carried daily to the unit without adhering to pollution control norms resulting in pollution of water in rivers and ponds and diseases like tuberculosis, cancer and asthma.