The TVK-led Tamil Nadu government is struggling to meet the high demand for power in the State due to its lackadaisical attitude, charged AIADMK leader R.B. Udhayakumar.

In a statement, he said while the demand for power has increased to 21,000 megawatt, the State was reeling under a shortage of 5,000 megawatt. Though Tamil Nadu’s power demand crosses 20,000 megawatt during summer, its consumption has touched 21,000 megawatt during September.

“This has led to undeclared power shutdown and people are subjected to untold sufferings, especially losing their sleep due to power cuts during nights,” the former Minister said.

He charged that the TVK government failed to take any precautionary steps. It has failed to predict the increasing power demand. It is the responsibility of the government to have stepped up power generation and taken efforts to procure power.

Ever since the TVK government assumed charge, the State has been facing power cuts for several hours. The present power cuts have adversely impacted the students who have been preparing for the ensuing quarterly examinations. Incidences of people laying siege to the TANGEDCO offices and blocking roads, protesting against power cuts have been reported in Chennai, Tirunelveli, Tiruchi, Pudukottai, Kulithalai, Ambasamudram and Tiruvallur in the last 10 days, he pointed out.

“Minister for Energy Resources (C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar) is trying to pass the buck pointing to the drop in power generation by windmills. However, this raises a serious question whether the TVK government was giving its full attention towards power generation which is an indispensable and the basic need of the people,” he said.