TN never compromised rights on getting coal stock: TN Electricity Minister

Chennai: Averring that states ought to ask and obtain what they require from the Central government, Electricity Minister P. Thangamani said Tamil Nadu never compromised on its rights, particularly in obtaining its coal stock from the Centre.

Reacting sharply to opposition criticism on coal allocation, the Minister said replenishing of the coal stock showed that the state government is firm on getting its rightful due from the Centre. "Our rights are never compromised. From one-and-a-half day inventory, the coal stock has now improved to five days’ stockpile. Is this being subservient to the Centre?” he asked while winding up the debate on the demand for grants for his department in the Assembly on Thursday.

In order to protect the interest of the state and to operate the state thermal power stations to meet the energy demands of TN, purchase order has been placed in October 2017 for importing coal through e-tender with e-reverse auction and the supply is under progress, he informed. “In fact, the e-reverse auction and e-tender process has helped to save '184 crore to the exchequer and we are prepared to account for it anytime,” Mr. Thangamani said.

“Our Chief Minsiter (Edapadi K. Palaniswami) is a farmer… as an ordinary person he understood the needs of people while they (DMK) wanted to somehow come to power as they are power hungry,” the Minister added.

Tamil Nadu will continue to be a power surplus state in 2018-19 also with an energy surplus of 15,116 Million Units and with a peak power surplus of 2,235 MW. On capacity addition, he said 6,200 MW would be added by 2020-21 and 11,400 MW in the next five to six years.