Thangamani locks horns with Senthilbalaji over power supply to farmers and TASMAC

CHENNAI: The present and former electricity ministers of the State clashed over the issue of supplying three-phase electricity to farmers, particularly in the Delta region, during the state budget debate in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday.

Former minister P Thangamani claimed that their government had provided three-phase electricity to farmers, Now, the farmers in Delta receive power only for 12 hours a day, while farmers in the rest of the State are getting power supply for only 9 hours.

However, his counterpart V Senthilbalaji dismissed charges stating that the AIADMK’s scheme existed only “on paper.” He asserted that the previous government had issued an order “just two days before the 2021 elections” without undertaking any groundwork or creating the necessary infrastructure to implement the announcement.

Senthilbalaji called Thangamani’s statement “totally false,” adding that farmers were well aware of the situation. He emphasised that the current government is working to create infrastructure, such as establishing sub-stations and erecting transformers, to ensure the reliable supply of electricity to farmers.

Unyielding, Thangamani countered by stating that the AIADMK government had supplied electricity for 22 hours a day to farmers. He then shifted focus to the department’s debt. “We did not increase tariffs during our regime,” he said, questioning why the department was still facing losses despite raising tariff rates. Balaji said that the DMK regime had increased grants and subsidies significantly, reducing the department’s loss from Rs 12,000 crore under the AIADMK to Rs 338 crore, adding that the department is doing well now.

‘EB nodal officers in 234 constituencies’

Electricity Minister V Senthilbalaji informed the State Assembly that a nodal officer each had been appointed for all 234 constituencies, and MLAs could get all their department-related grievances redressed by approaching them.

Intervening during the debate on the Budget 2025-26 in the State Assembly, Senthilbalaji said, “Solution for any grievance is only a phone call away. If you (MLA) have any issue related to the electricity department, it will be immediately redressed with just a phone call.”