The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Ten years of reliable and stable power supply

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 27, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Ten years of reliable and stable power supply

T. Ramakrishnan

A channel is being formed to draw seawater for North Chennai Thermal Power Station

CHENNAI: Friday marked the completion of 10 years of service by the North Chennai Thermal Power Station, located 25 km from the city.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa dedicated one unit of the NCTPS to the nation in February 1995. It was on February 24, 1996 that the third unit of 210 megawatt (MW) went on steam, marking the operation of all the three units. Since then, the station has been a source of reliable power, providing stability to the supply in this part of the State.

The total installed capacity is 630 MW with three units of 210 MW each. It can produce 4.5 million units (MU) a day. One of its features is the height of the plant's chimney — 275 metres.

According to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, this was the tallest in Asia at the time of inauguration. Regarded as one of the efficiently run stations, the NCTPS bagged a gold shield for 2001-02 and 2002-03, a silver shield (in 2000-01 and 2003-04) and a silver medal (in 1999-2000) from the Centre for its power generation record.

The NCTPS is not just a tale of high performance in power generation or history.

The authorities, over the years, have become more conscious of safeguarding the environment, given the location of the plant near the mouth of the Ennore Creek or the Kosasthaliyar River.

The quality of water let out by the plant conforms to the norms of the Pollution Control Board. Hence, it does not affect fishing, say officials.

At the same time, the quality of water, drawn from the Ennore Creek for cooling, is extremely contaminated, having a bearing on the performance of the station. So, the authorities have decided to draw water from the sea directly.

A new channel is being formed and will be ready by May. The Rs. 36-crore project has seen time overrun, but the authorities hope the work will be completed in a few months.

As on date, the NCTPS is the last coal-based thermal power station put up by the TNEB.

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