CHENNAI: The condition of privatising the distribution network in each city, having a population of more than one million, need not be insisted upon for the implementation of mega power projects in the State, according to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

In his address to the Chief Ministers' conference, organised by the Union Power Ministry in New Delhi on Monday, Mr. Karunanidhi [the text of whose speech was placed before the conference and copies of which were circulated to the press in Chennai] said the condition would be delaying the execution.

Referring to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB)'s two joint venture projects of 1,000 megawatts each with the NTPC and the Neyveli Lignite Corporation in Chennai and Tuticorin respectively, the Chief Minister said the agreements had been signed and development activities for the projects were under way.

The projects satisfied the criteria of mega power status as the capacity would be 1,000 MW and the TNEB was favouring inter-State sale of power.

One of the conditions to be fulfilled by Tamil Nadu for certification by the Power Ministry to obtain customs duty waiver for the projects was the privatisation of distribution in all the cities of power-purchasing States and the Centre would fix the timeframe in this regard.

The Chief Minister argued that the TNEB was managing the distribution network "without power cut or load shedding." Billing and collection efficiency was about 99 per cent. All new consumers, irrespective of category, were provided with power connection within the time limit stipulated by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The Board maintained the quality of power well within the limits prescribed by the TNERC.

Koodankulam project

Adverting to reports on the postponement of the commissioning of the first 1000 MW capacity unit of the Koodankulam atomic power project from December 2007 to December 2008, Mr. Karunanidhi requested the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to see to it that the project was commissioned early.

Land identified

Noting that around 3,500 acres of land in and around Vilunthamavadi village in Nagapttinam district had been identified for an ultra mega power project, he urged Dr. Singh to instruct the authorities concerned to include the Nagapattinam project in the list of such projects. Poromboke land accounting for most of the required lands, acquisition of land in a short duration and cheaper cost of land were among the reasons for identifying the site.

As the area was located in an industrially backward area, it would boost the economy of the region and an all-weather port had been planned along with the Sethusamudram project, he said.

The Chief Minister called for allocation of gas available in the State exclusively to the Board. The Power Ministry should allocate power from the unallotted portion from the Central Generating Stations as the Board faced a shortage of 400-800 MW in summer.

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