State took 1,000 transformers from AP, to issue tenders soon for purchase: Minister

Thangamani made this disclosure while replying to Congress legislator VS Kalimuthu (Dharapuram), who debated on demand for grants for Energy department sought to know when the new transformers would be replaced by new ones to increase energy efficiency.

Thangamani, who went on to brief the measures taken by the government during summer, stated that Chief Minister has already given instructions in a pre-summer review meeting. “We have been adhering to it,” he said.

On dearth of transformers, the Minister said the issue was embroiled in a litigation which led to a stay on purchase of new transformers two years ago. “The stay has been recently vacated. We have already started looking out for vendors and tenders to purchase new transformers would be floated soon. At present, we have as many as 1,000 transformers on loan from Andhra Pradesh and are utilising it on need based,” he said.

“We have also repaired as many as 1.66 lakh damaged electric poles and the legislator can point out specific locations if they come across any damaged electric poles,” he added.

Regarding expanding the electricity coverage in far flung areas and farm connections, the Minister sought the cooperation of farmers and public to set up the grid which is the basic requirement for supply of electricity.

“The compensation for the land is provided at a rate of 2.5 – 2.75 times of the land value during land acquisition,” he noted.

He boasted that he gets ‘calls’ from public wanting to know as to why the power has been shut-down even for a minute in the AIADMK regime which is power surplus.

On safety aspect, the Minister said that the employees were given all safety gears and has to wear them at times of duty. “Considering the risk involved in their work, the CM has approved a wage hike over and above their demand so much so that the signatory trade unions include the Principal Opposition and left-backed ones,” he said.

Thangamani takes veiled dig at Dhinakaran

State Electricity and Prohibition Minister P Thangamani on Thursday took a veiled dig at AMMK (Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam) leader TTV Dhinakaran, accusing him of winning election using hawala money. Political heat inside the Assembly on Thursday matched the soaring mercury level outside after Minister Thangamani, replying to debate on demand for grants for his department in the House, said, “People, who won election using Rs 20 hawala currency and who run distilleries do not deserve to talk about me. I won by 48,000-vote margin because of chief minister (Jayalalithaa). 

The late leader, incumbent chief minister and my voters are aware of it.” Complaining that he has been receiving threats via SMS and on social networking sites ever since he spoke in the House a couple of days ago, the Minister said he would not be cowed down by such threats.

The unrelenting Prohibition Minister went on a criticism blitz against the RK Nagar MLA by adding that people who run distilleries are preaching the virtues of prohibition. Those who come to the Assembly alone are attempting to dissolve the government, the Minister remarked, cautioning that he would reveal the secrets if they (read as TTV) do not stop.

At least the Opposition could be excused for aspiring to capture power because they were once unseated, but power-hungry individuals are aspiring to come to power, said Thangamani, who is considered the right-hand man of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.