With Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) announcing power cut for High Tension (HT) industrial and commercial consumers on Tuesday, with immediate effect, industries here said they were not prepared for the sudden power cut.
K. Ilango, chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry, Coimbatore, said, “We knew about it only in the afternoon and it is implemented immediately. We did not expect the power cut now. It has come as a shock and will add to the difficulties of the industries.”
According to V. Lakshminarayanaswamy, president of Southern India Engineering Manufacturers’ Association, the industrial scenario is already bleak, especially for foundries. The power cut will not only affect these industries but the ancillary units too. It will push up prices as industries will have use generators.
Present levelD. Balasundaram, president of Tamil Nadu Electricity Consumers’ Association, said the industries expected power cut at a later date, probably from November. He hoped power cut would not be increased from the present level of 20 per cent.
T. Rajkumar, chairman of Southern India Mills’ Association, said, “We feel the power cut is a temporary measure as the Government is taking steps to increase availability of power.” Tamil Nadu had always been a front-runner in the textile sector. The sector was already facing disadvantages such as non-availability of raw material (cotton) here. The State Government should take measures to sustain the competitiveness of the textile units, he said.
