No nuclear power for states which don't allow setting up of plant: Union minister's salvo

Goyal made this statement after a power review meeting with Tamil Nadu Minister for Electricity, P Thangamani.

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Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal visited Chennai on Monday and made a rather strange statement about states who were opposing or stalling nuclear power projects. Addressing the media after a meeting, Goyal said that state which does not allow a nuclear plant in their state won't be able to avail nuclear energy from other states.

“Any state which does not allow a nuclear plant… should not be eligible for the benefits of nuclear power from another state,” Goyal said.

Nuclear energy is undoubtedly a contentious issue. However, it is strange that a minister who holds the portfolio for new and renewable energy would use a tit for tat tactic to arm twist states which are stalling nuclear power projects. In a time where there a global push towards renewable energy, it is absurd that a minister opts to threaten rather than suggesting alternatives.

Goyal made this statement after a power review meeting with Tamil Nadu Minister for Electricity, P Thangamani.

He spoke about GST and said that the state would make substantial savings because of the tax regime. "I have also shared with the TN govt about the huge savings Tamil Nadu is going to get, thanks to GST and the reduction of taxes by which NLC will reduce the cost by Rs. 508 crore. For Tamil Nadu, other companies which provide power will come down. And a saving will be about Rs. 1000 crore for Tamil Nadu.

He also spoke about the Goods and Services Tax and how it will result in huge savings for the state. “I have also shared with the TN govt the huge savings the state is going to make, thanks to GST and the reduction of taxes and SES on coal by which NLC (Neyveli Lignite Corporation) alone will reduce the cost by Rs 508 crore,” he said.

He added that the Tamil Nadu government has asked for more power supply to Kudankulam power plant and they will try to extend maximum power for the project. “It is a genuine request and I will do my best to give more power to Tamil Nadu,” Goyal said.

Goyal also met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edapaddi Palanisamy at the secretariat on Monday. “In the meeting, I expressed my gratitude to the people of Tamil Nadu and to the leadership for supporting Ram Nath Kovind as the presidential candidate,” he said after the meeting.

Highlighting the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY), the union minister said, “UDAY has helped Tamil Nadu become a power surplus state as the rest of the country. I’m sure in the days to come Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corportion (TANGEDCO) will also start making profits and will be able to serve the people of Tamil Nadu with affordable, adequate, uninterrupted and clean power,” he said.

He assured that the Central government would support the Cheyyur Ultra Mega Power Plant (UMPP) and would allot a coal block to the plant.

Goyal was also asked about the government’s decision to privatise Kamarajar port, against with DMK leader MK Stalin wrote to Union Shipping and Roadways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday. “There is no move to privatise any port in the country,” Goyal told the media.