Sunday, July 3, 2011

Power Woes in Tamil Nadu

After the Assembly Elections and the announcement of results, Chennai City is facing two hours of scheduled power-cut and unscheduled voltage fluctuations throughout the day.

  • T.N.E.B's outstanding debt in 2005-06 was Rs 9300 crore
  • T.N.E.B's debt in 2010-11 is Rs 40,000 crore
  • Monthly Power Purchase Bill of TNEB is Rs 2000 crore
  • Cost of Proposed Bail-out sought by C.M from the Centre is Rs 40,000 crore 

Vivek Narayanan (Times of India, July 3, 2011) tries to explain the predicament of the new government and the ailing TNEB in terms of additional funds required to finance the purchase of additional stocks of coal for power generation and clearing the arrears of power sellers due from TNEB so far. The only solution seems to lie in the revision of tariffs both for the domestic and industry sectors. And it is not easy to touch the domestic sector and the farming sector at this juncture.

Well, as it is being argued that the position will improve in the year 2012, we are to bear with the current situation for one more year at least, if everything goes well as per the plan unveiled before the new government. Who are responsible for such a sorry state of affairs? Politicians alone?

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