DMK government’s work in electricity department ‘conveniently ignored’ in White Paper: Senthilbalaji

Contradicting the White Paper released by Electricity Minister R Nirmalkumar, former Electricity Minister V Senthilbalaji accused the TVK-led government of releasing a “convenient report” while omitting the work done during the former DMK regime.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Mr. Senthilbalaji said that it was the previous DMK government that saved the electricity department.

“The demand for electricity is increasing every year. Even though the demand has been steadily increasing for the last five years, we have ensured uninterrupted and even supply. During the earlier AIADMK regime, the electricity tariff was increased three times – by 37%, 3.5% and 16%. Despite these tariff hikes, the revenue shortfall has gone up to ₹56,800,000. In the last five years, the difference between reduced the revenue and expenditure to ₹ 34,447 crore,” he said.

He further said that ₹1,200 crore – ₹1,500 crore has been saved annually by reducing the interest rates on loans taken by the Electric Board and revenue from the sale of fly ash obtained from thermal power plants has increased to around ₹160 crore, he said.

When the DMK assumed office in 2021, the total debt of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board was ₹1,59,731 crore, with around ₹15,000 crore paid in interest in just a single year, he said. He added that ₹75,000 crore has been disbursed in the last five years in interest alone. The cost of power generation, power acquisition cost and transmission charges have also increased over the past five years, he said.

Claiming that electricity has never been procured at exorbitant rates, he said the power generation capacity has increased by 9,000 MW in the last five years.

“When we came to power, projects like the Kundah project and the Kolli Hills project were in the initial stages. We have completed a significant part of the work on them,” he said, adding that lack of staff should not be cited as the reason for the current power problems.

Pointing out that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay recently circulated appointment orders to 401 individuals in the electricity department, Mr. Senthilbalaji said all were selected during the DMK regime.

The increase in electricity consumption in industries was not mentioned in the White Paper, he added.

Published – 25 Jun 2026 22:13 IST