New projects to generate over 6,000 MW of power
The Hindu, 2 July 2009

CHENNAI: The State will generate more power in the next three years as various projects are in different stages of implementation and will start becoming operational from October 2010, said Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veeraswami on Tuesday.

Addressing the 37th annual general meeting of TNEB Retired Officials’ Association, Mr. Veeraswami elaborated on the projects being implemented by the State, Centre and private parties. They would generate over 6,000 MW of power.

Mentioning that the State had to incur additional expenditure on purchasing power from other States at Rs.10 to Rs.11 per unit, he said: “While other States are revising the tariff once in every two years, we have left it untouched for the last three years. This has also added to our deficit. In the next three years, we would be generating more power, and the losses could be set right by selling excess power to other States.”

Mr. Veeraswami said that in the coming days the State would draw plans to generate more power instead of asking people to conserve energy. “Electricity is now a necessity. These days, more and more electrical appliances are being used in houses. None of the States have surplus power. Currently, we are purchasing power from private parties to tide over the situation. We will also reduce the quantum of power cut, with the improvement in the power situation.”

Referring to the long-pending demands of retired officials, the Minister said he was willing to sort them out at the earliest through discussions with officials of the Electricity Board and the State Finance Department.

Earlier, the members passed a resolution seeking payment of arrears on a par with that of pensioners of the State government. They sought all pensioners’ benefits available to government employees, implementation of a court order on encashment of unearned leave and establishment of a diagnostic centre in the city.

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