Tamil Nadu increasing power generation capacity

The Tamil Nadu Government has initiated several measures to ramp up power generation capacity and in the next 1 to 2 years an additional generation capacity of 7000 MW would be added in the State.

According to Mr MK Stalin deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu said that the Government is also addressing the problem of infrastructure bottlenecks plaguing the Coimbatore region, which apart from being famous for its engineering prowess is now proving its mettle in electronics and IT sectors too.

Speaking at an interactive meeting organised by the CII, Mr Stalin said that hydel power generation, which was 6455 million units during 2007-08, shrunk to 5386 MUs during 2008-09. The generation of wind power and power from the thermal power plants at Neyveli and nuclear plants at Kalpakkam and Kaiga also fell. But while at the all India level, generation fell by 13.8% in Tamil Nadu, it was only by 5.5%.

Mr Stalin further said that cogeneration plants with a capacity of 234 MW were established in 17 sugar mills in the co operative and public sector fold at an investment of INR 1176 crore. Agreements have also been signed for establishing two power plants with a total capacity of 1,200 MW at an investment of INR 4650 crore.

In the Ennore plant, establishing 600 MW capacity unit is nearing completion. In the next one to two years, it is expected that 7000 MW of additional power generation capacity will added.