2 Power Projects Cleared
The State Government and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) on Friday cleared two power projects, capable of generating 1600 MW of power at an estimated cost of Rs 7,627 crore for 2008-09. The funds for both projects, to be made available by the Rural Electrification Corporation, Government of India, would be utilised by the North Chennai Thermal Plant and Neyveli Lignite Corporation for producing the required power, a government release said.
The pact for the projects was signed in the presence of Chief Minister M Karunandihi by P Umashankar, Chairman and Managing Director, Rural Electrification Corporation, and S Machendranathan, Chairman, TNEB, and J N Prasanna Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director, Neyveli Lignite Corporation.
The generation of power from the projects would be for tackling the current power crisis and also for meeting the future power needs, the release said. As per the pact, the Thoothukudi Thermal Plant and the North Chennai Thermal Plant (second phase) would step up power production, making use of the funds available from the Rural Electrification Corporation. Apart from this, Rs 1,132 crore would be spent for laying underground power cables in the Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchy, Salem and Tirunelveli corporations, the press note added.
