Upping the ante against the AIADMK, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, on Thursday, said the Tamil Nadu government showed lack of interest in power reforms and has ignored schemes highly beneficial to the consumers.
“The Tamil Nadu government is not interested in helping honest electricity consumers, but only the dishonest who use unauthorised connections to steal electricity,” Mr. Javadekar said, referring to the UDAY scheme while addressing reporters here. Ninety per cent of the people in 18 States had appreciated the scheme but Tamil Nadu chose not to opt for it. Lesser interest burden and other benefits would have ensured the turnaround of the State’s power utility, the Union Minister said.
On UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All), Mr. Javadekar said he did not understand why Tamil Nadu did not join the scheme. With the emphasis on cost-effective LEDs, he said the scheme would have reduced power bills of people. Mr. Javadekar said of the six States along the Western Ghats, only Tamil Nadu has not submitted its proposals on the Kasturirangan report. “We are following it up for one year,” he said.
