Surplus power generation likely: Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE, JUNE 6. Privatisation of power generation in the State would help reach a stage of surplus generation and sell electricity to other States, the Electricity and Health Minister, Mr. Arcot N. Veerasamy, said here today.

Inaugurating three sub-stations in Tirupur, Mr. Veerasamy said the Government had tie-up with some private firms, who were willing to generate power. These firms were ready to embark on the project even during the regime of the Narasimha Rao Government at the Centre. But not a single power purchase agreement was signed on 12 proposed projects by the then State Government.

At the initiative of the DMK Government, a private firm had started generating 200 mw of power. Proposals have been sent to the Centre on establishing three more projects (1,000 mw of power) each. As of now, 5,500 mw of power was being generated in the State. In the next two years, the demand would be 7,000 mw. With private parties also generating power, the State could exceed the demand and begin selling power to other States requiring power, the Minister said.

Mr. Veerasamy said 240 sub-stations were added to the existing strength after the DMK Government came to power in the State. Costing Rs.1,500 crores, the sub-stations were funded by the Tamil Nadu Power Finance Corporation. Another 60 would be added by December to take the total number to 300 - established in the last five years.

The Minister for Pollution Control and Youth Affairs, Mr. Pongalur N. Palanisamy, said the new sub-stations in Tirupur were a long-felt need as both the industry and the domestic sector suffered problems in supply.

The CPI MLA from Tirupur, Mr. K. Subbarayan, said the new sub- stations had been established after persistent demand. Even after the State Government had accorded sanction, the projects were stalled by problems like transfer of revenue and Municipality land to the TNEB. Later, the Minister opened a Primary Health Centre at Poomalur in Palladam Taluk.

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