“Load shedding in the State is now minimal and infrequent,” Finance Minister O.Panneerselvam said presenting the 2014-15 budget on Thursday.
Stating this, while giving details of the State government’s initiatives and proposals on the energy front, Mr.Panneerselvam said such a scenario has ensured uninterrupted supply of quality power throughout the State.
“Further, an all-time high peak demand of 12,799 MW was met on January 29 by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (Tangedco),” he added.
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During 2013-2014, a tariff subsidy of Rs.4,970 crore and Rs.2,153 crore as equity share capital assistance had been provided to the Corporation. Continuing this support, Rs.5,400 crore has been provided in the Budget Estimates 2014-2015 for tariff subsidy and Rs.2,000 crore as share capital assistance, he added.
In the current fiscal, the government also took over Rs.1,000 crore of the Rs.6,353-crore loans of Tangedco as part of the Financial Restructuring Plan. It proposed to take over Rs.2,000 crore more of its liabilities in 2014-15.
Giving details of the ongoing and proposed projects, Mr. Panneerselvam said Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation Limited was planning to set up Green Energy Corridors for evacuation of wind power with financial assistance German Funding Agency KfW. The project outlay was Rs.1,593 crore. Works, he added, were also in progress for establishing 400-KV substations along with associated 400-KV lines at Thappugundu, Anaikadavu and Rasipalayam to evacuate wind power. This was estimated to cost Rs.1,192 crore.
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To draw more power from other regions of the country, a 400-KV substation at Tiruvalam with associated transmission lines had been taken up at a cost of Rs.1,000 crore.