TN not to increase power generation from Periyar project

Chennai, Nov 18 (UNI) Tamil Nadu has no intention of increasing power generation through the Periyar Hydel power project, State Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy said today.

Reacting to a reported statement by Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan that Tamil Nadu was attempting to augment its revenue by increasing power generation in Mullaperiyar reservoir, he said the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board's (TNEB) total production capacity was 10,098 MW.

Of this, only 140 MW was generated under the Periyar Hyder power project, constituting less than 1.38 per cent of the total production, he said in a statement here.

Moreover, the TNEB's power production had exceeded the requirement of the State. Hence, it was not right to state that Tamil Nadu was demanding the rise of Mullaperiyar's storage level to increase power generation, the Minister said.

Mr Veerasamy said the Tamil Nadu Government wanted to increase the storage level only for driniking water and irrigation requirements, in accordance with a Supreme Court verdict and the State's right of share in the Dam.

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