The Neyveli Lignite Corporation will soon be setting up mega thermal power projects of 1,000-MW capacity, according to A.R. Ansari, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, NLC.
He was delivering a speech on “Impending paradigm shift in engineering sciences and future challenges,” jointly organised by the Institution of Engineers (India), Neyveli centre, and, the Engineers and Scientists' Association at Neyveli.
Mr. Ansari said that with achieving optimal productivity and initiating steps for tapping the non-conventional sources of energy such as solar and wind power, the NLC which was now a Mini Ratna company, was all set to attain the Navaratna status.
The Chairman said that the population of the country that remained at 35 crore in 1950 had now touched the 1.2 billion mark. By the end of the XII Plan period, to provide power to all, an additional capacity of 1,00,000 MW ought to be created.
Hence, the engineers were facing an enormous challenge of meeting the demand. As the fossil fuel deposit was fast depleting they would have to harness the alternative sources of energy without affecting the environment.
In this context he stressed the need for adopting new technology such as the Bloom Box, a fuel cell device using ceramic discs, for neutralizing the effects of carbon-dioxide and other gaseous emissions, underground coal gasification technology and so on. Mr. Ansari underscored the point that nanotechnology held out a great promise for the future. He opined that the speed of the Internet ought to be increased manifold. He called upon the engineers to put in their best for the growth of the company and the betterment of the society.
NLC Director (Mines) B. Surender Mohan, who is also the chairman of the Institution, Neyveli centre, called upon the engineers to use the technology to improve the living condition in the rural areas and to facilitate better water supply, power and health care. They could also play a vital role in increasing agricultural productivity on a sustained basis.
On the occasion Mr. Ansari garlanded the portrait of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, whose birth anniversary was being observed as Engineers' Day, and distributed prizes to the winners of various competitions organised in this connection.
M. Ramachandran, president, Engineers and Scientists' Association also participated.
