Power situation to improve from June: Jayalalithaa

India Gazette (IANS) Saturday 4th February, 2012

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Saturday said the power shortage in the state would start easing from June this year.

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the governor for his address, Jayalalithaa said: "By June this year, 1,950 MW capacity and another 600 MW generation capacity would be added in October. The power shortage would ease from June onwards and by 2013 middle, the power shortage would be ended."

She said that had only the previous DMK government followed up the projects initiated by her government during 2001-06, Tamil Nadu would have added 3,000 MW power capacity.

Jayalalithaa said her government has taken various steps soon after coming to power, following which the Vallur 500 MW unit would be started by March this year, from which the state's share would be 375 MW.

The second and third units at Vallur would be commissioned this June and next February and the 600 MW units at Mettur and North Chennai Thermal Power Station and would also be commissioned this March and October respectively.

According to her, the increase in the plant load factor of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board's (TNEB) power plants and purchase of power at cheaper rates has resulted in an outgo of Rs.1,662 crore.

Citing the huge debt burden of TNEB - Rs.50,000 crore - and the Rs.11,500 crore outstandings to the power generators, Jayalalithaa said TNEB is paying the old debt out of new loans.