Chennai, Oct 25 Tamil Nadu Minister for Energy Resources and Law CTR Nirmal Kumar on Sunday raised concerns over the national-level power demand forecasting and resource adequacy planning by the central government, citing reports that Rajasthan was paying Rs 46.09 per unit for electricity.
In a post on X, he said, “Since individual States have limited visibility of nationwide power demand and generation availability, unlike central power-sector institutions.”
Noting that the Union Power Ministry needs to examine why such demand–supply gaps were not anticipated and planned in advance, he said, “At least now the ministry should plan on national-level forecasting and better coordination with states which could help States avoid such prohibitively expensive power in future.”
The remarks come amid a controversy in Tamil Nadu over emergency short-term power purchases by the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd at record-high rates of up to Rs 37 per unit.
Parties including the opposition DMK, AIADMK and allied parties sharply criticized the move and alleged “poor planning”, which would drive the state power corporation towards financial crunch.
(PTI News)
