TN seeks adequate rakes from railways for coal supply

Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam has requested Union railways minister Suresh Prabhu to ensure adequate supply of rakes in order to meet the peak summer coal requirement of NTPC Tamilnadu Energy Company Ltd (NTECL) Vallur thermal power plant.

In a letter, Panneerselvam said the NTECL, a joint venture company of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd (Tangedco) and public sector undertaking NTPC Ltd, was not able to get adequate coal supply due to inadequate railway rakes at Talcher coal mines.

"Although the plant is capable of generating 1,500-Mw, power generation from the station is restricted on account of short supply of coal due to limited availability of empty railway rakes at Talcher coal mines. I am given to understand the Ministry of Railways is not able to provide enough number of empty railway rakes at Talcher coal mines," he said. This has resulted in shutdown of one of the power units at Vallur plant.

Augmentation of coal supply to NTECL Vallur plant would greatly help the state meet its power demand during summer, he added.

"I therefore request your personal intervention in this matter and instruct the concerned authorities to arrange for adequate supply of railway rakes to ensure uninterrupted supply of coal to NTECL Vallur Thermal Power plant to manage the peak power demand during summer," said the chief minister.

The fully-operational Vallur plant is a 1,500-Mw (3X500-Mw) coal-based facility. Tamil Nadu has been allocated 1,045-Mw from the plant.