Find a solution for power crisis: Forum to TN CM

Tiruchirapalli, Nov 4: The newly-formed-Tiruchi Circle High Tension Power Users' Forum has urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to take remedial measures to overcome the power crisis in order to safeguard high tension category industries in and around the city, according to Forum sources. The sources said the present power shortage has driven fabrication industries in the high tension category, the mainstream process partners of BHEL, to the grave situation of laying off thousands of workers.

The industrialists, who are members of the Forum suggested that those owning a group of production units be allowed to exercise the option of clubbing the rationed power and utilising it in full for the units of their choice at a specified point of time to reduce production loss, advance information on unannounced power cuts to protect equipment, provision for lighting be enhanced from the present level of five per cent of overall consumption to 10 per cent and restoration of the previous schedule of peak hour restriction from 1800 hrs to 2100 hrs.

Tiruchi District Tiny and Small Scale Industries' Association President S Sridharan said the Forum would impress upon the state government the need for taking remedial measures to sustain the industrial process.

In the current scenario, the industries not only suffered from higher power tariff and production loss, but also grappling with the damage caused to the equipment due to drop in power outage.

UNI