Power generation severely hit by NLC strike

Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, Jun 11 (UNI) Power generation and mining operation were drastically hit in the public sector Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) following the strike by contract workers, pressing for a nine-point charter of demands.

As the strike entered the tenth day today, power generation had come down to 785 MW as against the total capacity of 2,490 MW.

NLC sources said the second thermal power station was the worst hit as only 480 MW of power was generated today as against its capacity of 1,470 MW.

In the first thermal power station, the power generation had come down to 145 MW as against 600 MW and in the expansion unit, it was 160 MW compared to the capacity of 420 MW.

Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy, however, said the low power generation would not affect the State's power position.

He told newspersons in Chennai that the State had made alternative arrangements to tide over the crisis. The State required 8,700 MW of power and thanks to the generation of 1,300 MW of power through wind mills, the State could manage the power position, he said.

Mining operation was also severely hit as more than 12,000 contract workers were on strike, demanding wage hike, regularisation of service and provision of medical facilities.

In Mine-I, 11,500 tonnes of coal was cut against the normal production of 35,000 tonnes. In the first mine expansion, the production was 7,250 tonnes as against 15,000 tonnes and in the second mine, it was as low as 2,400 tonnes as against the normal production of 30,000 tonnes, the sources said.

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