Electricity minister revels in ‘power’

Chennai, Nov. 11: While most taxpayers of the state continue to suffer from power cuts, the electricity minister, Mr Arcot. N.Veerasami, has consumed 7,660 units of electricity at his residence located at Anna Nagar, for the bi-monthly period ending September 2009.

This fact came to light when this correspondent filed a petition under the Right to Information Act seeking details of the electricity bills of netas and babus.

Likewise, the TNEB chairman has consumed 1,640 units for the bi-monthly period ending August 2009.

It should be noted that most people of the state are being burdened by frequent power fluctuations, restrictions imposed on HT consumers, two-hour load shedding in the districts and other unscheduled interruptions.

At times, the people have even taken it to the streets attacking the offices of the power utilities and abusing the power managers. But our netas and babus continue to be lavish as ever.

As per the information furnished, the electricity minister has taken three power connections — two domestic and one commercial — at his residence.

“Tariff 1 A — domestic consumer number 401-003-63; Tariff 1 A — domestic 401-003-452 and Tariff V - commercial 401-003-441. The consumption during September 2009 (bi-monthly) was 3,760 units, 3870 units and 30 units respectively,” stated the reply.

All the three are three phase connections and are in the name of Kasturi Veerasami.

The connected load is 5 kilowatt and 4.2 kilowatt respectively for the two domestic connections.