Steps to make TN self-sufficient in power generation soon: Min

Madurai: Minister for energy resources and law, C T R Nirmal Kumar, has said efforts would be taken to make Tamil Nadu self-sufficient in power generation using opportunities available in the state.He told reporters here on Saturday that all govts in power in the past 25 years had ruined the electricity department. The destruction began during the DMK rule in 2006. Around 1.45 lakh people were employed in the department in 2001, which has been reduced by half now. The department has a debt of nearly Rs1 lakh crore, and electricity is also purchased at a higher price per unit. The scam in transformer procurement is being probed by CBI. He said chief minister C Joseph Vijay has entrusted him with the enormous task of restructuring all such deficiencies in the department. He would take steps to resolve all issues. Efforts would be made to reduce the amount of electricity purchased from outside and make TN self-sufficient in power generation. Steps would be taken to meet the electricity needs of all villages through basic infrastructure.On cabinet expansion, Nirmal Kumar said CM Vijay is reviewing each department at the secretariat every day and taking necessary action accordingly.