PMK Urges Tamil Nadu Government to Operate Thermal Power Plants for Energy Independence
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Synopsis
Chennai, Feb 11 (NationPress) PMK chief Anbumani Ramadoss has called on the Tamil Nadu government to act promptly to operate all thermal power plants for achieving power generation self-sufficiency, criticizing current purchasing rates and urging the completion of new projects.
Key Takeaways
- Anbumani Ramadoss advocates for immediate operation of thermal power plants.
- Current electricity purchasing rates are deemed unacceptable.
- High tariffs threaten TANGEDCO's profitability.
- Call for accelerated construction of thermal plants.
- More than 50,000 MSMEs shut down due to tariff hikes.
Chennai, Feb 11 (NationPress) The president of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Anbumani Ramadoss, has called on the Tamil Nadu government to take swift action to ensure the operation of all thermal power stations in the state, aiming for self-sufficiency in electricity generation.
The former Union Minister criticized the current situation, stating that purchasing power at Rs 20 per unit is unreasonable when the state can produce electricity at Rs 6 per unit.
He cautioned that if the purchase of electricity continues at such elevated rates, despite rising tariffs, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) will never achieve profitability.
Ramadoss urged the government to accelerate the development of thermal power plants, emphasizing that timely completion of these projects would eliminate the need to depend on private entities for electricity at inflated prices.
He also claimed that over the past two decades, only 2,100 MW of thermal power capacity had been added in Tamil Nadu, with no new projects introduced in the last ten years.
The PMK previously accused the state administration of intentionally delaying the full-scale generation of electricity at the North Chennai Thermal Power Station Stage-3 to rationalize purchasing power from private firms at higher rates.
Ramadoss highlighted that the plant, built at a cost of Rs 10,158 crore, was inaugurated a year ago, yet he alleged that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin hastily launched the facility before the Lok Sabha elections.
He pointed out that typically, power plants commence generation within weeks of their inauguration.
“Thermal power plants are deemed operational only if they function continuously for 72 hours. However, the 800 MW plant has not operated for that duration,” he remarked.
The PMK President had earlier condemned the Tamil Nadu government for implementing power tariff hikes three times within a span of 23 months. He noted that more than 50,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in western Tamil Nadu have closed down, attributing the shutdowns to the tariff increases.
“The power tariff has surged by 33 percent, adversely impacting all segments of society. This is intolerable,” he stated, urging the administration to retract the increase.
Ramadoss further suggested that if electricity bills were calculated monthly rather than bi-monthly, consumers could experience a decrease in charges by 18 percent to 20 percent.
