The Centre on Thursday submitted to the Supreme Court that it would not be possible to supply additional power, surrendered by Delhi, to Tamil Nadu.
The Centre told a bench, comprising Chief Justice Altamas Kabir, Justice S S Nijjar and Justice J Chelameswar, that the grid in TN does not have the ability for absorbing the power. “The grid has not got the capacity for absorbing additional power and TN is itself responsible for it,” Attorney General G E Vahanvati told the bench.Pointing out that certain grids don’t have the capacity to absorb power, the AG said TN was supposed to increase its capacity.
He further said that TN had filed the petition before the apex court on superficial ground. There were eight other States asking for power, Vahanvati added. Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for TN said that if the whole surplus power was allocated to other States, the application becomes infructuous. At this, the Chief Justice asked the AG to file an affidavit in this regard.
Rohtagi told the Bench that the NTPC had in a letter informed that it would supply power to Tamil Nadu if the Centre gives its approval. The surplus power in winter was only from November to March. They should keep it aside, the counsel explained. To this, the AG said, power can’t be stored.