The Hindu Business Line : TN urged to improve power distribution

Coimbatore, Dec. 21 The Minister of State for Commerce and Power, Mr Jairam Ramesh, voiced the need for improving the power distribution system in Tamil Nadu.

He commented about this after observing some low overhead power lines in the city. The Minister was here to inaugurate the e-auction of tea at the Coimbatore Tea Trade Association.

Addressing reporters, he said, “The urban power distribution loss in Tamil Nadu is supposedly 20 per cent. There is enormous scope for reducing the transmission and distribution loss. The Accelerated Power Distribution Reforms Programme (APDRP) announced by the Government aims to bring down the transmission and distribution losses in all cities and towns with a population of more than 30,000. The Tamil Nadu Government should make use of this scheme.”

The APDRP, he said would help reduce power theft, reduce transmission and distribution loss, ensure separate feeder lines for agricultural supply and use IT for metering/billing.

He conceded that the State faced special problems on the power front due to uranium shortage forcing atomic energy plants operate at 45 per cent capacity, unprecedented flooding in Neyveli mines and the explosion at the Sabarigiri Hydel power station in Kerala.

“We have initiated measures to improve the power situation in the State. The situation should be better in the coming months,” he said.

“However, new projects have to come up in Tamil Nadu through public-private partnerships. While solar and wind energy are good, they are not the solution. There is no alternative to increasing coal-based power and nuclear power,” Mr Ramesh said.

He also said that the Governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu should set aside their differences and start work on hydel projects across the Cauvery River Basin.

“Today, both States are buying power at Rs 8/unit from Chhattisgarh. By developing four hydel projects across the Cauvery River Basin – Shivasamudram, Hogenakal, Rasimanal and Mekadatu – they would be able to get it at Rs 2.50 per unit,” he said and pointed out that he has shared a draft tripartite agreement with both governments.

“A joint venture can be formed by the NHPC with the governments of both these States and a power-sharing formula evolved,” he said.

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