Master stroke - CM Ms J Jayalalithaa announces TN to be power-cut free State

It has been a pet theme of many films …. Sankar directed Rajni starrer Sivaji begins ‘in medias res’, with a masked person being brought to the Central Jail in Chennai. The whole film  was about talks about black money and its harmful effect.  In Kanthasamy, Vikram plays a sleuth in CBI, granting the wishes of the needy who write letters to Lord Muruga at Thirporur temple by disguising himself as an anthropomorphic chicken. He goes on to discover a stash of black money, travels places to take out the hidden riches for the benefit of Indian poor.  In Anniyan, Ambi an innocent and honest lawyer fights and kills lawbreakers by torturing them and is shown as a person with multiple personality disorder.  ~ all of those dealing with corruption and black money were big hits with the people, so was the  2011 Indian anti-corruption movement spearheaded by Anna Hazare and his followers.  Black is not the colour of money but the money earned to ill-gotten means – everyone have their own estimates of black money stashed in tax-havens abroad. 

In the first decision after assuming office, the Narendra Modi circar   constituted a special investigative team (SIT) headed by former Supreme Court judge M B Shah to unearth black money. The SIT will be headed by former Supreme Court judge M B Shah and will include Revenue Secretary, CBI and IB directors, Enforcement Directorate official, CBDT Chairman and RBI deputy governor. Former Supreme Court judge Arijit Pasayat will be the vice-chairman of the panel.

Darkness, does not exist -  is the opposite to brightness, is understood to be an absence of visible light. It is also the appearance of black in a colored space. In conditions of insufficient light, perception is achromatic and ultimately, black. India had two severe blackouts in July 2012. …..   Chennai has been hot (hotter, hottest) and Kathiri (Agni nakshathiram) is expected to end today … and alongwith it the temperature is expected to cool….. just as the Pesphologists have been making various predictions on the poll results ~ some had been predicting that Chennai has been pampered for long ~ and that power-cuts would soon be the order of the day once the elections are over ….  When there were a couple of unscheduled power cuts in some areas of the city, especially around midnight – people started feeling that it is going to be the order of the day.

Due to some reasons, there has been power shortage and recently the power shortage went up to 2500MW. Southern states are dependent on the power grid line between Sholapur in Maharashtra and Raichur in Karnataka which was commissioned on January 1. But it is not operational as the parallel line being laid by a private company is not ready.  In neighbouring Andhra (Seemandhra / Telengana now !!) even before the onset of summer, the four distribution companies (discoms) decided to impose power cuts across the state with demand touching 12,400 MW  recently. According to officials, in the first phase, a two-hour power cut will be imposed across Greater Hyderabad limits from next week.

The good news is that Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced that Tamil Nadu will be a power-cut free State from June 1 and all restrictions imposed on power supply by the previous DMK regime in 2008 would be withdrawn from that day. “Within three years, I have made Tamil Nadu a power cut -free State,” Jayalalithaa said in a statement with a sense of pride. Decisions to this effect were made at a high-level meeting.

“All restrictions on power supply imposed by the previous DMK regime with effect from November 1, 2008, will be completely withdrawn from June 1. The 90 per cent load-shedding on High Tension industries being implemented between 6 pm and 10 pm, and the 20 per cent load-shedding for business and commercial consumers who use HT line will be withdrawn,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the move would boost industrial growth in Tamil Nadu besides creating more employment opportunities.

There has been fillip from the non-conventional side too. The power situation in the state has seen a remarkable improvement with wind mills  generating more MW and Neyveli Lignite Corporation also adding to  the state's kitty. Moreover, the first unit of Kudankulam started generating power last year, which peaked at 900MW before it was shut for maintenance.  However, the government's decision to lift power cuts in industrial and commercial segments may hit domestic consumers if there is a sudden dip in wind energy generation or if thermal plants are shut for maintenance, said an industry source.

The announcement that ‘Tamil Nadu will be a power-cut free State” is indeed another masterstroke from the strong lady, who swept the TN Parliament elections, despite powerful Tsunamo across the country

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

28^th May 2014.