Question : Power Demands of Tamil Nadu

(a) whether the Union Government has provided adequate funds for Government of Tamil Nadu to mitigate the problems arising due to losses incurred and debts accumulated by TANGEDCO and TNEB over a long period of time;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the amount released so far out of the total grants;

(c) whether the Union Government has taken any decision or plans to increase the power allocation to Tamil Nadu from the centrally operated power projects;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken by the Union Government to support Tamil Nadu to face its increasing power demands?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER AND
NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI R. K. SINGH )

(a) & (b) : The dues of State Power Distribution Utilities are contingent liabilities of the States, and taking the fact into consideration, Government of India launched Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY), on 20-11-2015, for financial and operational turnaround of the State owned Power Distribution Companies (DISCOMs). Under the scheme, states are to take over 75% of debt of DISCOMs, as on 30-09-2015, which would be outside the Fiscal Responsibility & Budgetary Management (FRBM) limits.

Under the scheme, Government of Tamil Nadu has taken over the debt of TANGEDCO to the extent of Rs.22,500 crores.

(c) to (e) : As per information given by the States/UTs to CEA, during the current financial year 2017-18 (April-November, 2017), the energy shortage in Tamil Nadu was 0.1%. Electricity is a concurrent subject and the states make their own plans to meet the power requirements. If the State Governments make any request for power from the Central Pool, the power is made available as per availabilities.

To meet the requirement of electricity in Tamil Nadu, the Central Government has allocated 6,102 MW from various Central Generating Stations to Tamil Nadu.
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