The improvement in power generation has brightened up the prospects for industries in the State, according to Minister for Information and Special Programme Implementation K.T. Rajendhira Balaji.
The Minister said this at a function organised here on Saturday where he distributed patta transfers, done on fast track, to 92 beneficiaries, and another set of patta transfers involving sub-division of lands to 82 persons, educational assistance to the tune of Rs.1,17,200 to 48 students, marriage assistance of Rs. 52,000 to six women from Sattur taluk, and Rs.1.5 lakh compensation issued under the Chief Minister’s Natural Disaster Relief Fund to a woman whose husband was killed by lightning recently. He said the power scenario was very bleak in the State when Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa took charge two and a half years ago. Many parties, including the Opposition, felt that it would be very difficult to improve the situation as the power requirement had gone up with more people using several electrical and electronic equipment.
However, the Chief Minister was able to make Tamil Nadu a power-surplus State. There would be no more power shutdowns. It would help industrialists from other States to establish units in Tamil Nadu.
Later, the Minister distributed farm implements – all worth Rs.28.32 lakh – on behalf of the Agricultural Engineering Department to seven farmers, including woman and Scheduled Caste members.