Date:31/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/31/stories/2008123160540900.htm

Tamil Nadu

NLC to supply 1100 MW of electricity to State

A.V. Ragunathan

NEYVELI: The Neyveli Lignite Corporation will supply the entire allotted quota of 1100 MW of electricity to the State from January 14, Tamil New Year, according to A.R. Ansari, Chairman-cum-Managing Director.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, after assuming office as the CMD, Mr. Ansari said hurdles in acquiring mining lands and incessant rains during November had drastically curtailed the power generation.

However, overcoming the impediments, the NLC was bouncing back to its full generation capacity of 2490 MW.

Mr. Ansari said the NLC had set an ambitious target of enhancing its power generation from 2490 MW to 10,000 MW by 12th Plan period through execution of projects at Jayamkondam, Tuticorin, Orissa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand.

The NLC would take up the Jayamkondam project on a priority basis because it had the potential lignite reserve of 300 million tonnes.

Of the 12,000 hectares required for the project only 3,700 ha had been acquired so far. He would soon meet Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in this regard, Mr. Ansari said.

In all likelihood, the project would become operational by 2012 and supply another 1,000 MW to Tamil Nadu, he said. As for the problem faced in land acquisition, he said for creation of every MW capacity one hectare was sufficient, including the dumping yard for flyash.