BAMA President Anbumani Ramadoss said that it is the duty of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to provide 24-hour uninterrupted three-phase electricity to all industries and rural areas.
In this regard, PAMC president Anbumani Ramadoss said in a statement, “The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has failed miserably in providing 24-hour three-phase electricity to agriculture and small, micro and medium enterprises across Tamil Nadu, including the Cauvery irrigation districts. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulation states that it is the duty of the Electricity Board to provide 24-hour electricity to the farmers. When the Commission has passed a decision, the refusal of the Power Board to implement it is in contempt of the Commission’s decision.
In the report released the day before yesterday, I had explained in detail about the effects caused to the farmers due to non-interruption of three-phase electricity supply in the Cauvery irrigation districts and other districts. But till now, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has not taken any steps to provide uninterrupted three-phase electricity to the farmers.
Apart from that, the Electricity Board has explained that three-phase electricity is supplied to agriculture in a cyclical manner except between 6 pm to 10 pm and 6 am to 8 am. Since three-phase power is supplied cyclically for the remaining 18 hours apart from 6 hours a day, it is certain that no area is supplied with three-phase power even for 6 hours.
24-hour three-phase power supply to agriculture is feasible. For that only 300 MW to 500 MW of electricity will cost extra. Apart from that, with 24-hour electricity supply, farmers can water their crops at their required time. Hence, they will reduce the use of water pumps during peak electricity demand. The reality is that through this, uninterrupted three-phase electricity can be provided to all parties 24 hours a day.
It is the duty of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to provide 24 hours uninterrupted three-phase power to all industries and rural areas. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission has confirmed this in its decision on 29th December 2023 in a case in which Savior from Tuticorin district was subsequently argued for by Neelkantap Pillai, a retired executive engineer of the Electricity Board.
It is possible to provide 24 hours uninterrupted three-phase power to farmers. The electricity distribution systems operating in Delhi have confirmed that this can be made possible with the cooperation of farmers.
It is wrong for the power board to think that the solution to overcome the shortage of electricity is to replace three-phase electricity with two-phase electricity. Instead of this approach, 24 hours uninterrupted three-phase electricity should be provided to all industries including farmers,” the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission said in that decision. It should be implemented by the Electricity Board.
The Patali Makkal Party will not allow the livelihood of farmers across Tamil Nadu to be taken away to save 300 MW to 500 MW of electricity. Tamil Nadu Government and Electricity Board should immediately announce and implement that 24 hours uninterrupted electricity will be provided in all parts of Tamil Nadu. Otherwise, I warn that steps will be taken to file a contempt case in the Electricity Regulatory Commission on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Farmers Association and a public interest case in the High Court,” he said.
