TN industries hail lifting of power cuts

The industry associations here have welcomed the lifting of restrictions for high tension (HT) power consumers from June 5.

While some of the restrictions have been entirely removed, others have been relaxed from June 5 to September 30 coinciding with the peak wind season in the State.

In a release issued by the government yesterday at Chennai it was pointed out that for the HT consumers and commercial establishments, a 20 per cent non peak hour power cut has been in force. During the peak hours (6 pm to 10 pm), there was a 90 per cent power cut for these consumers.

The release said that the Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has ordered the withdrawal of 20 per cent power cut that was in force during non peak hours from June 5 for these consumers. The 90 per cent power cut during peak hours has been relaxed from June 5 to Sept 30. (The 10 per cent power consumption was allowed during peak hours for lighting and for security purposes).

Welcoming the decision, Tamil Nadu Electricity Consumers’ Association (TECA) President D Balasundaram said that TECA had represented to Rajesh Lakhoni, Secretary, Energy Department and M Saikumar, Chairman cum Managing Director, TANGEDCO, seeking a review of the power cut as the demand had declined and the wind season had arrived. He hoped that there would be no imposition of power restrictions during this year (2015-16) since new generation capacities would be commissioned.

D Nandakumar, President, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore (ICCIC), said the decision of the Chief Minister to lift the 20 per cent non peak hour power cut and relax the 90 per cent peak hour cut and the steps taken to improve power position would `pave way’ for the state’s industrial and economic growth.

He also urged the Chief Minister to `review the evening peak hour restrictions’ at the end of the wind season.