Water in mines; lignite production, power generation hit

As the stir by Neyveli Lignite Corporation workers protesting the Centre's disinvestment move entered the fourth day today, power generation has dropped and lignite production has been affected in all the three mines with threat of being submerged as water is stagnating.
Mines water controlling unit technicians joined the stir from the first shift yesterday and following this groundwater in mines are stagnating and the mines are gradually being submerged, NLC Deputy Manager R Balakrishnan said.
He said there has been shortfall of 500 mw in power generation. Against the full capacity of 2490 mw of the three thermal stations, 1990 mw was generated this morning due to the stir and technical snag in steam line pipes.

At present, lignite stored in bunkers are being used for power generation and it will last for another four days. Later, power generation will be decreased to zero level.
NLC planned to operate the thermal units with 'burns oil' as fuel instead of lignite without shutting them down. By this plan, each unit will generate ten to 30 mw because once the plant is shutdown, it will take weeks to regenerate power from the units, he said.
Defying a Madras High Court order, about 30,000 NLC workers, including 13,000 contractual employees, struck work at 9.00 PM on Wednesday last, protesting the Centre's decision to disinvest a five per cent stake in the PSU.

The court, in an interim order on a petition filed by the NLC management, had restrained the unions of the company from going on strike.
The Unions have announced that workers would picket the first thermal station on Tuesday.
About 7,000 engineers and officers of NLC are not participating in the strike.