Neyveli Lignite Corporation workers ready for strike

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Chennai:The strike at Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) is set to have a significant impact on the state’s power supply. Various unions representing 17,500 permanent workers, of the NLC, have declared to go on an indefinite strike, to protest against the Centre’s move to divest five per cent shares of from the Navaratna company, from Wednesday night, which will see reduction of 900 MW power supply to the state grid.
NLC generates a total of 2,490 MW power from its station I and II. Of which Tamil Nadu alone receives 1,175 MW as its share, while Andhra Pradesh gets 277 MW, Karnataka (291 MW), Kerala (212 MW) and Union Territory of Pudu­cherry (93 MW).
Two units of 50 MW each in Neyveli station I are under the annual maintenance, while one unit of 250 MW capacity in the NLC station II Expansion, is under repair, since January this year, according to the Southern Regi­onal Load Despatch Centre.
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corp­oration (Tangedco) is pinning its hope on the wind power generation to meet the shortfall, if any in case the NLC generation goes down.
“We are monitoring the situation closely as the NLC supplies 2,000 MW power to the Southern states including nearly 900 MW for Tamil Nadu. If the strike affects generation, it will have severe impact on the power situation in the power deficit Southern states, particularly on us,” said a senior Tangedco official, and added that load shedding would be imposed if there were a shortfall.
The state has been largely free of power cuts after generation from windmills picked up in the second week of May. “At present, the wind mills are generating around 2,700 MW. Wind generation is highly infirm in nature. It varies from time to time,” the official said. The state has a total installed wind power capacity of 7145 MW. On Monday, the state’s total power consumption stood at 255 million units and no load shedding was imposed.
Unions observe fast
As a prelude to the indefinite strike from July 3, the joint action council of 15 trade unions, on Tuesday observed a token fast in front of the Q bridge in Neyveli protesting against the disinvestment proposal.
JAC convenor S. Rajava­nniyan said they would go ahead with the strike as originally planned if the Centre failed to rescind its decision to disinvest 5 per cent stake in the PSU.
NLC staff strike may cost  TN 900 mw
 
Chennai: The NLC strike is likely to have an impact on the state’s power supply. Various unions representing 17,500 permanent workers of the NLC have declared to go on an indefinite strike, to protest against the Centre’s move to divest five per cent shares of  the Navaratna company, from Wednesday night, which will see reduction of 900 MW power supply to the state grid.
Meanwhile, coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said Tamil Nadu government’s offer to buy 5 per cent stake in Neyveli Lignite Corporation had been referred to Sebi.  He also asked  trade unions of the PSU firm not to go on strike against the proposed share sale in the company.