Lifting of power holidays a boon for TN textile sector

04 Jun '12

3 min read

Acute power shortage in Tamil Nadu became a major setback for the HT industries particularly the textile industry which accounts for one third of the textile business, 47 percentage of spinning capacity, fetching over Rs.50,000 crores forex and providing direct jobs to over 50 lakh rural people and women.

The textile industry had to face the worst ever crisis in its history during the last one year due to the high volatility in cotton and yarn prices coupled with global and domestic market slow down. Recently, the centre has announced a debt restructuring package of Rs.35,000 crores consequent to the concerted efforts made by The Southern India Mills Association to avoid large scale NPAs and sustain the survival of the mother industry in the country which provide direct and indirect jobs to over 90 million people in the country.

In a press release, Mr S Dinakaran, Chairman, The Southern India Mills' Association (SIMA) has profusely thanked the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for taking aggressive steps to mitigate the power crisis in Tamil Nadu and partially relaxing the R&C Measures. Mr Dinakaran has also thanked the Hon'ble Chief Minister for personally writing to the Hon'ble Prime Minister recommending the debt restructuring package to revive industry from the recession.

Mr Dinakaran has stated that the State had to face severe challenges due to poor maintenance and frequent break down of the power stations, delay in executing the new power plants, poor central allocation of power, corridor congestion, reduction of power frequency tolerance by the CERC, etc. He has highly appreciated the proactive measures taken and marvellous achievements made on power front by the Hon'ble Chief Minister.

SIMA Chairman has stated that the removal of both the power holidays and reduction of load shedding to three hours would enable the industry to improve the capacity utilisation substantially and also reduce the consumption of high cost diesel power and third party power, besides providing continuous employment to the workers. He has added that over 75 percent of the wind mills installed in the State belong to the textile industry, the single largest consumer of TANGEDCO and the wind power has been helping the industries in the State to sustain the competitiveness.

SIMA Chief has appealed to the Hon'ble Chief Minister to make necessary arrangements to ensure proper evacuation of entire wind power, to the tune of 3500 MW during the wind season and avoid any blackout to improve power supply position and also to sustain the viability of the wind mills.

Mr Dinakaran has appealed to the Hon'ble CM relaxing the power cut during night hours and also during the peak hours taking advantage of the wind power which would augment the revenue to the ailing TANGEDCO and also the industries.

He has felt that the peak hour restriction could be reduced by 50 percent and night hour power cut be reduced to 20 percent from 40 percent in first phase and later could be further relaxed. He has promised that the industry would extend full support to TANGECO in equally distributing the power shortage and have win-win situation. SIMA Chief has also appealed to the centre to allocate more power from the centre and also the entire power generated out of Kudankulam nuclear power plant to sustain the competitiveness of the industries and also the jobs of people in Tamil Nadu.

The Southern India Mills' Association (SIMA)

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