Chennai, Jan 20: As the specter of a potential power shortage looms over Tamil Nadu, PMK founder S Ramadoss has urged the state government to proactively address the issue highlighted in the Load Generation Balance Report 2024, issued by the Southern Regional Load Despatch Centre. The report warns of an imminent power shortage of 4,000MW from January to June, necessitating urgent measures to avert disruptions.Ramadoss emphasises the importance of leveraging solar power to manage daytime electricity demands effectively. While solar power can contribute to mitigating daytime shortages, he cautions that nighttime may witness power outages lasting 3 to 4 hours. To address the anticipated power deficit during the upcoming summer months, he urges the government to initiate comprehensive planning and implementation immediately.
Highlighting the challenges in procuring power from private sources during the summer, Ramadoss advocates for prompt agreements with private players. As demand surges across states, securing additional power becomes a critical aspect of preventing potential blackouts.
The underlying cause of the impending shortage, according to Ramadoss, lies in the inadequate progress of power generation projects. Numerous thermal power projects, with a combined capacity of 17,340MW, have been pending for an astonishing 17 years. He stresses the government’s responsibility to prevent power outages, particularly during the crucial summer months.
Ramadoss proposes a forward-looking strategy to address the issue, urging the government to expedite the implementation of its announced plans. Specifically, he calls for the realisation of 20,000MW solar power projects and 15,000MW hydro power projects before 2030. This, he believes, is crucial for permanently avoiding power cuts and ensuring a reliable and sustainable power supply for the state.