Tamil Nadu Power White Paper reveals ₹2.47 Lakh Cr debt

The Tamil Nadu government released a comprehensive White Paper on the state's power sector on Thursday, June 25, 2026, revealing a staggering debt of ₹2.47 lakh crore, severe manpower shortages, and aging infrastructure. The report, presented by Electricity Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar, provides a 25-year financial overview and outlines a multi-pronged strategy to address systemic challenges.

According to the document, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) group's outstanding debt stood at ₹2.47 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026. Borrowings increased significantly in the 2021-26 period, reaching ₹87,399 crore compared to ₹67,652 crore in the previous five years. The report noted that while the revenue-expenditure gap narrowed sharply to an estimated ₹933 crore in 2025-26, largely due to a tariff revision, cumulative losses over the past 25 years amount to nearly ₹2 lakh crore. Minister Nirmal Kumar stated that revenue increased through multiple tariff revisions, but expenditure rose in parallel without a corresponding improvement in infrastructure or manpower.

A critical issue highlighted is a severe staffing shortage. Against a sanctioned strength of 1.41 lakh posts, only...