The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, today blamed the previous DMK regime for the prevailing power shortage in Tamil Nadu and said delay in commissioning of various projects led to the crisis situation, which has forced the Government to announce a revised load-shedding schedule.
During the previous DMK regime, steps were taken to generate only 206 MW of power and it failed to commission some of the power projects announced by AIADMK 2001-2006, Ms Jayalalithaa said in a statement.
“Since there were no steps taken for long term procurement of power, the State was not able to get its share from other States,” she said.
Faced with acute power shortage, the Tamil Nadu Government yesterday decided to impose two-hour power cuts in Chennai and four hours load-shedding in the rest of the State from Monday, besides introducing power holidays for industrial units throughout the State.
From Monday, 40 per cent power cut will be imposed to all industrial and commercial consumers.
Giving an example of the DMK regime “failing” to take up a project agreed upon by the AIADMK Government, Ms Jayalalithaa said though there was an agreement between the Gujarat Electricity Board and Tamil Nadu for the latter getting 500 MW of power, the State was able to get only 235 MW due to shortage in the transmission corridor.
Though the demand for power in the State was between 11,500 MW to 12,500 MW, it was able to supply only 8,500 MW leaving a shortage of 3,000 to 4,000 MW, she said.
“As per the suggestion given by industries and consumers, I have issued orders to the officials that there should not be any unscheduled power cuts in the State,” she said.
Ms Jayalalithaa said to provide uninterrupted power supply to senior secondary and higher secondary schools, considering their board exams, the Government would provide generators on rent to them, and would bear the costs involved.
“Whenever there is a lack of providing electricity to a school, steps will be taken to provide generators on rented basis. The government will bear the costs involved,” she said.