Power shortage will be solved by year-end: Jayalalithaa

The problem of power shortage will be totally overcome by this year end, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa told the Assembly on Friday.

Pointing out that the problem would on the decline from June, the Chief Minister said the State would get 2,175 megawatt (MW) of power by June and 762 MW more by the end of this year. In total, various thermal power projects, now under execution, would ensure the supply of 3,312 MW to the State. At present, 375 MW was given.

Agreements had been signed for the purchase of 900 MW from private power producers in Tamil Nadu and 500 MW from other States on a three-year-long basis. This would be available after June, she said in her reply to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address.

In addition, the State would get power from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project and the expansion of the Neyveli Thermal Power Station –II.

Giving a break-up of several power generation projects, a 600-MW unit at the Mettur Thermal Power Station had begun trial run. A similar capacity unit at the North Chennai Thermal Power Station would be commissioned by May.

In the case of the Vallur thermal power project, jointly executed by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation and the NTPC, one unit of 500 MW had started production and the State was getting 375 MW. Two other units of 500 MW each would be commissioned between March and October this year and they would give 750 MW totally. Through another joint venture project – Tuticorin thermal power project - involving the Neyveli Lignite Corporation, 387 MW would be supplied to the State.

Global bids would be floated by March for 660 MW Ennore Expansion Project and 1,320 MW each of the Udangudi and North Chennai thermal power projects, Ms Jayalalithaa said.

Giving a comparative account of capacity addition achieved by her previous regimes (1991-1996 and 2001-2006) with those of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (1996-2001 and 2006-2011), she said that of the State’s total installed capacity of power stations, 30 per cent was accomplished when she was in power.