Power-starved TN announces power holiday

Chennai, July 18 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government today announced a staggering power holiday for industries and power cuts in the State in view of the prevailing power crisis.

After a meeting with industrialists and later with Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy said industries would be given one day power holiday in a week as the Government faced a shortfall of 1,000 MW of power.

In the city, there would be one hour power cut every day, while it would be for two hours elsewhere in the State, he said, adding that the staggering holiday for industries and power cut in the State would come into force from July 21.

For farmers, the existing system of providing power for six hours in day time and eight hours during night time for five days in a week would continue. For the remaining two days, the farmers would be given power for four hours during day time and eight hours in night, Mr Veerasamy said.

As directed by the Chief Minister, uninterrupted power supply would be ensured for street lights and for drinking water projects.

For the benefit of students, power supply would be ensured between 1800 hrs and 2200 hrs, he said.

Industries which generated power using furnace oil would be exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT) and could enjoy ten paise waiver on power generation tax, the Minister said.

To enable the state electricity board to procure additional power and distribute, the Chief Minister agreed to provide Rs 50 crore a month to the Board, he said.

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