Click to play videoChennai: There are nearly two hour long power cuts every day in Chennai and up to five hours in rural areas. The power cuts are ironic for even as India is claiming to be a nuclear super power; its own states are finding it difficult to even sustain essential resources like electricity.
The power cut starts sharp at 12 noon and lasts for a suffocating hour-and-a-half in urban areas.
"The government said power would be cut for one-and-a-half hours. But it stretches to at least one hour more than that everyday. The entire state is groping in the dark," says a resident of Chennai, Shyam Sundar.
"On the other hand, the government is wooing foreign countries to set up industries here. When the government doesn't have power to give to its residents, how will it cater to these industries," he adds.
Tamil Nadu requires 9,000 MW of power every year. Chennai alone consumes nearly 1,800 Mega watts and power generation from Hydro and Thermal plants has fallen to 1,000 MW.
Generation from windmills too has fallen to just 200-300 MW, therefore the net result is a deficit of over 1,800 Mega watts - a deficit that is perhaps a reflection of the continued lack of planning by successive governments.
"We expected about 2,000 MW from wind energy, but the wind energy failed us. So with whatever we are getting, we are managing. We expect the Kudangulam power plant to be ready by December, " says the Minister of Power, Arcot Veerasami.
With reports now suggesting that Tamil Nadu may reel under a severe power crunch for the next 4-5 years, it is perhaps time for the government to focus on better management and sustainability of important resources like electricity.
Things are looking bleak for Chennai's IT revolution as well.
The 6-lane expressway in the city showcases the biggest names in the IT industry but getting to the expressway is a challenge for young proffessionals like Sathish, an IT professional.
Terrible to approach roads and poor connectivity by trains or buses has punctured the dreams of IT professionals like Satish's.
Sathish says, “It used to take me 15 minutes to reach office earlier but now the severe traffic and bad roads means that it takes me nearly an hour and a half.”
IT companies who've made huge investments in Chennai for the project are frustrated as the construction on the expressway is still not over.
VP, HR, Infosys Mohandas Pai says, “Many more companies are coming to Chennai in the Mahindra city. The whole of Mahindra city will have some 45,000 to 50,000 IT professionals, and unless transportation improves, I think growth will be hurt.”
The Government has unveiled a 32,000 crore master plan for Chennai, which includes elevated highways and mass transit projects.
However, the urban planners feel that it is already way too late.
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