The Hindu Business Line : Power crisis to continue for 3-4 years: CII study

Recommendations
The Govt must consider unbundling of the operation for effective generation, transmission and distribution
Consider channelising the captive capacity
Load shedding to be distributed equally among industry, domestic and commercial establishments

R. Ashok

Mr Shiv Das Meena (centre), Executive Director, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, releasing an exhibition catalogue after inaugurating Energex’08 at Tiruchi on Friday. Others in the frame are (from right) Mr Manikam Ramaswami, Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry, Tamil Nadu; Mr P.V. Kannan, Chairman, Energex’08; and Mr Senthil Annamalai (extreme left), Chairman, CII Tiruchi zone. —

R. Ravikumar

Tiruchi, Sept. 26 Tamil Nadu needs a medium-term plan to tide over the present power crisis and not a short-term solution as the crisis will continue for three to four years, according to a study commissioned by the Confederation of Indian Industry, which is yet to be released.

The Government must also consider the unbundling of the operation for effective generation, transmission and distribution, said Mr Manikam Ramaswami, Chairman, CII - Tamil Nadu.

Attributing the drop in exports to power shortage, he said the Government must also consider channelising the captive capacity (around 3,500 MW), which is lying idle. He also sought that load shedding should be distributed equally among industry, domestic and commercial establishments.

Consumption pattern

Currently, the industry consumption is 30 per cent, while domestic and commercial establishments consume 35 per cent. “However, industry bears the maximum brunt and, as a result, production suffers,” he pointed out.

He spoke at the inaugural ceremony of Energex 2008, the second edition of energy expo that showcases Tiruchirappalli’s potential as an energy equipment manufacturing capital of India. While the Government is keen on extending various sops to bring in huge investments into the State, it must also extend some sops to protect the Rs 50,000-crore investments that have been made here over the last eight years, he said.

Delivering his special address, Mr Shiv Das Meena, Executive Director, TNEB, said the State was very comfortable with an installed capacity 10,200 MW as against the demand ranging from 9,200 to 9,500 MW. However, owing to fuel shortage, failure of south-west monsoon and a 1,000-MW short supply from central generating stations, the State reels under power crisis.

“Thinking beyond power generation, one can realise that focus on conservation and efficient power equipment would help to get over this problem,” he added. TNEB is taking a series of initiatives to modernise its operations besides cutting down transmission and distribution losses.

He also mentioned that the per capita power consumption in the State is 950 units to 1,000 units against the national average of around 600 units. “With many projects, which are in the pipeline and in various stages of implementation, by 2010 the State is expected to come back to surplus position,” said Mr Meena.

Energex 2008

Trichy is the energy equipment capital of the country, said Mr Ramaswami, adding the district is well on its way to clock Rs 12,000 crore this year. According to the 2025 vision document of TN, the district would produce equipment enough to generate 1,00,000 MW. The first edition of Energex witnessed over 50 exhibitors, more than 3,000 participants and generated Rs 200 crore worth of business transactions. The current event, with exhibitors also from countries such as China and Dubai, is projected to attract at least 5,000 visitors and generate more than Rs 500 crore business.

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