Comrades leave Centre, lose power in Kerala!
The Left is slowly learning what it means to be out of corridors of power. Kerala, inspite of massive power shortages, is not receiving extra electricity from the Centre’s unallocated power pool while its neighbour, Tamil Nadu, which is ruled by U...
By Urmi A Goswami, ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI : The Left is slowly learning what it means to be out of corridors of power. Kerala, which is facing massive power shortages, is not receiving any extra electricity from the Centre���s unallocated power pool while its neighbour, Tamil Nadu, which is ruled by UPA ally DMK, has received as much as 100 mw of electricity from the unallocated power pool.
This even though Tamil Nadu faces a peak shortage of 7% as against Kerala���s 22%. As a matter of fact Tamil Nadu���s shortages are far below the average peak shortage for the country, which is at 10% and definitely far below the southern region average of 15%.
For a government that has claimed not to ���play politics��� with electricity, the UPA seems to be doing precisely that. Sources said that in the last few months, Tamil Nadu was the only state to receive unallocated power from the central pool.
A percentage of power produced by central units, which are owned by public sector undertakings such as NTPC, NHPC, is set aside as the share of the Centre. Out of this pool, the Centre allocates power to the states. Even after this allocation, a small quantum of power remains unallocated. Power from this unallocated pool is given to states according to the Centre���s assessment of need.
Sources indicated that the power ministry was not convinced of Tamil Nadu���s ���urgent��� requirement, especially when peak shortages in other states far exceeded the 7% shortage in Tamil Nadu. States like Maharashtra face 27% peak shortages, Bihar faced 22% shortage, Kerala 22%, Andhra Pradesh 20%, Karnataka 17% and Uttar Pradesh 17%.
Many of these states have Congress governments. Sources have indicated that Tamil Nadu���s fortunes, despite a lower level of need, are indicative to the crucial role that the DMK plays in the ruling coalition. While last week, Andhra Pradesh was given 50 mw of power from the unallocated pool, neighbouring Karnataka which is facing massive shortages has virtually given up hope.
Some indicate the change in Andhra Pradesh���s fortunes to be linked to the fact that the junior minister for power Jairam Ramesh represents the state of Andhra Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha.
This even though Tamil Nadu faces a peak shortage of 7% as against Kerala���s 22%. As a matter of fact Tamil Nadu���s shortages are far below the average peak shortage for the country, which is at 10% and definitely far below the southern region average of 15%.
For a government that has claimed not to ���play politics��� with electricity, the UPA seems to be doing precisely that. Sources said that in the last few months, Tamil Nadu was the only state to receive unallocated power from the central pool.
A percentage of power produced by central units, which are owned by public sector undertakings such as NTPC, NHPC, is set aside as the share of the Centre. Out of this pool, the Centre allocates power to the states. Even after this allocation, a small quantum of power remains unallocated. Power from this unallocated pool is given to states according to the Centre���s assessment of need.
Sources indicated that the power ministry was not convinced of Tamil Nadu���s ���urgent��� requirement, especially when peak shortages in other states far exceeded the 7% shortage in Tamil Nadu. States like Maharashtra face 27% peak shortages, Bihar faced 22% shortage, Kerala 22%, Andhra Pradesh 20%, Karnataka 17% and Uttar Pradesh 17%.
Many of these states have Congress governments. Sources have indicated that Tamil Nadu���s fortunes, despite a lower level of need, are indicative to the crucial role that the DMK plays in the ruling coalition. While last week, Andhra Pradesh was given 50 mw of power from the unallocated pool, neighbouring Karnataka which is facing massive shortages has virtually given up hope.
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Some indicate the change in Andhra Pradesh���s fortunes to be linked to the fact that the junior minister for power Jairam Ramesh represents the state of Andhra Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha.
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