TIRUPUR: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday accused the TVK govt of indulging “100% corruption” in power procurement. He alleged that the govt had purchased 2,100 MW of electricity at Rs 41.50 per unit instead of procuring power at lower rates. He said the state faced power cuts up to 15 times a day, affecting households and industries, while uninterrupted supply had been ensured during AIADMK rule.Speaking after inaugurating an Indian Oil petrol bunk near Kunnathur in Tirupur district, Palaniswami said the TVK govt had presided over the closure of 467 factories in Tamil Nadu, affecting nearly 1.5 lakh workers, and failed to attract fresh investment.The AIADMK chief alleged that official interference and the closure of existing factories had worsened the state’s industrial climate, discouraged new investment and prompted industries to move to neighbouring states. “Factories should have been helped to rectify deficiencies and continue operations,” he said.Palaniswami said schemes implemented under the AIADMK govt had been scrapped without proper review on the pretext of irregularities. “High-cost procurement and inefficient administration had deepened the power sector’s financial distress,” he alleged, adding that the electricity department had debts of Rs 2.58 lakh crore.He said prices of essential commodities, particularly rice, had risen sharply, burdening poor and middle-class families.Palaniswami alleged that chief minister C Joseph Vijay avoided journalists because they would raise questions about governance and public grievances.On the controversy involving Periyar Arivulagam in Coimbatore, Palaniswami sought an inquiry headed by a retired high court judge and said action should be taken against anyone found guilty, irrespective of position.Responding to a question on the controversy involving deputy speaker M Ravisankar who had allegedly assaulted and threatened a member of the public who approached him to flag civic issues, Palaniswami said the incident reflected shortcomings in the present administration. He said elected representatives should address public concerns rather than intimidate citizens.
