The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation's (TANGEDCO) efforts to explain the power situation in the State to the industry seem to have had no impact.
Despite the talks with its Chairman C.P. Singh here on Tuesday, the industry remains firm on going ahead with its strike on May 5.
“Industries in the State will go on strike on May 5 protesting against power cut,” president of the Coimbatore District Small Industries' Association M. Kandhaswami told reporters here after the meeting with Mr. Singh.
As many as 32 industrial associations in Coimbatore District will go on strike and organise a rally here on May 5. Industries in other parts of the State have said they will also join the strike and organise protests in district headquarters across the State.
Some of the farmer associations, powerloom units, garment units in Tirupur and large-scale industries have also extended support.
“We submitted seven major demands. However, there is no assurance on any of these demands. Hence, we have decided to go ahead with the strike,” Mr. Kandhaswami said.
Mr. Singh told reporters that the meeting with the industry representatives was organised to explain the power situation.
Constraints
The State would be able to meet its power requirements by the end of 2011-2012.
The demand was 12,000 MW per day and 7,000 MW was available. About 2,000 MW was being purchased. The corporation had conducted a long-term assessment of the power demands. It took nearly five years to set up a power plant. Measures were on to add to generation capacity.
All the four Southern States faced power shortage and the southern grid was not connected to the national grid. So there were constraints in purchasing power from other States and transmitting it.
Mr. Singh said according to the data available with the Meteorological Department on winds during the previous years, the wind season in the State was expected to commence only by May 15.
Wind energy
The wind pattern this year was different and wind energy generation was only for a short duration during the day. “Whenever we have wind energy generation, we are relaxing load shedding.” . About 200 MW was being generated every day.
The corridor for transmission of power from other States had to be booked at least two months in advance. Arrangements were in place to transmit the energy purchased from other States till May 15.
It was risky to change it now when the winds had not stabilised. The 30 per cent power cut for high tension industries would be reduced when the situation improved.
Nearly Rs.500 crore was the amount due for wind energy generators and this would be paid soon, he said.
On the strike on May 5, president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, M. Krishnan, said while all trade associations here would participate, jewellery and textile outlets and hotels would have a token participation as Akshaya Trithiya was on the following day.
