Chennai: Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday witnessed sharp exchanges between members of main Opposition DMK and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and Electricity Minister S P Velumani over the power scenario in the state, leading to a walkout by members of the Karunanidhi-led party on the issue.
Jayalalithaa intervened after DMK member B Ranganathan said the AIADMK regime was trying to create a "deceptive" picture that Tamil Nadu was a power surplus state.
Rebutting him, she said the Central Electricity Authority in its load balance generation report (LGBR) has categorically stated that Tamil Nadu was a power generation surplus state.
"The government is not trying to create any deceptive picture," she said.
The Chief Minister said Ranganathan would not have been confused whether Tamil Nadu was a power surplus state or not if he had read the government policy note on energy tabled in the House today.
Quoting it, she said the daily average power supply which was 200 Million Units in 2010 (DMK regime) increased to 300 MUs in 2016 (AIADMK regime).
"Also, TN has met an all time high peak demand of 15,343 MW and an all time high energy consumption of 345.617 MUs on April 29, 2016."
She said, the CEA in its LGBR had also categorically stated in 2016-17, the state will generate 11,649 MUs additionally and will be power surplus.
On the DMK member's views, she said, "it was like a person who does not know the game of football repeatedly striking same side goals."
"When DMK was in power, all types of mistakes were committed in power sector and they ruined the Electricity Department," she said, adding "all that they did was wrong".
She said after her party assumed power in 2011, her regime corrected all the wrongs committed by DMK. "We lit up Tamil Nadu, we made it glitter which was drowned in darkness," she said, amid thumping of desks by ruling party members.
She said whatever allegations DMK had thought of making (on power sector) did not happen as "all faults were on their side and achievements are on our side."
When Ranganathan, who was supported by other DMK members, wanted to air more views, Speaker P Dhanapal said it could not be considered as he had been given 55 minutes.
The Speaker said giving more time to him would affect the rights of other members. Unsatisfied by his reply, the DMK members staged a walkout.
Later, when DMK members returned, E V Velu (DMK) asked why the government had not given 4,10,000 (more) farm power connections if the state was power surplus.
He said in Tiruvannamalai district alone, 29,905 applications have been given by farmers seeking power connections.
The Electricity Minister said it would be considered later as it involved an outlay of about Rs 7,300 crore.
He said the AIADMK regime had made a turnaround in the power sector, ensured power supply and also had lowered TANGEDCO's debts from Rs.12,000 crore to 8,500 crore. On initiation of power projects too, sharp exchanges were witnessed between the Minister and Velu.
Jayalalithaa said during her 2001-06 regime, 3,136 MW power generation projects were started.
"However, for selfishness, such schemes were not expeditiously completed by the previous DMK regime," she said, adding such schemes were delayed to procure high cost power from private players and power exchange.
She said after AIADMK assumed power, electricity projects were expeditiously completed and steps were taken to buy power from other states. Due to the steps taken by the AIADMK regime, power transmission corridors were set up in lines including
Solapur (Maharashtra), Tiruvalam (TN) and Tamil Nadu was able to get electricity through such corridors.
Through completion of projects in the state, and by way of share from Central sector schemes, Tamil Nadu was getting 4,455.5 MW, she said.
"Additionally we are getting a total of 8,432.5 MW power in the past five years," she said and pointed out components including long and medium term power purchase agreements (3,030 MW) and solar power (847 MW).
The Demand for grant to energy, home, prohibition and excise departments were taken up for discussion in the House today.
