Power production in NLC hit by monsoon rains

Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, Oct 25 (UNI) Heavy rains in the district during the last two days, under the influence of North East monsoon, has hit mining operation and power production at the public sector Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC).

Official sources said NLC was producing 1,710 MW of power and the incessant rains in the last two days hit power production by 410 MW, reducing the power production to 1,300 MW.

As some of the units had been shut down for maintenance, power production in NLC had come down from 2,490 MW to 1,710 MW, the sources said.

Though mining was stopped, the thermal units had enough stock to continue the operation for the next ten days. Even if they ran out of the coal stock, they would be operated using furnace oil, the sources added.

Meanwhile, District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo said Annamalai Nagar in Chidambaram received 24 cm of rainfall and the district received an average of ten cm rainfall in the last two days.

No major damage was caused to the crops as the water was being drained out. The crops would be damaged only if the water remained stagnated for more than four days, he said.

In all, 12 villages in Chidambaram and Kattumannarkoil were inundated and efforts were on to drain out the water, he said, adding that all precautionary measures were being taken to avert any untoward incident.

The water level in the Veeranam lake was maintained at 44.2 ft as against its full capacity of 47.5 ft. The inflow into the lake was being monitored, official sources said.

UNI