January date for Vallur to deliver

Almost a decade ago, the first step was taken to set up a thermal power project (3 x 1500 MW) at Vallur near Ennore here. In July 2002, an MoU was signed between Tamil Nadu and NTPC to set up the plant; and in 2003 a joint venture company, NTPC-TN Energy Company Ltd (NTECL), was formed.If procedural requirements like coal linkage and environmental clearance consumed several years before the foundation stone could be laid on September 5, 2007, various factors have delayed the project schedule by over a year. As per the original schedule, the first unit was supposed to be commissioned by October 2010, second unit by March 2011 and the third by September 2011. The State’s share from the three units will be 1,040 MW. The tough soil condition owing to decades of salt cultivation in the project site, initially delayed the work by several months. “It took considerable time to level the place with fly ash,” an NTECL official said.The biggest reason for the tardy progress, however, is due to the delay in equipment supplies from the BHEL. “The BHEL was forced to shift priority and focus on several other projects. The Commonwealth Games delayed supplies even more,” the official said. The project faced certain logistics problems in storing, fabricating and erecting structures and installing equipment at the site. Also the demand for jobs by locals at Vallur held up work considerably. At one stage, (July 2011) they staged protests against the plant. When the issue peaked, officials led by the Revenue Divisional Officer held talks with the people and defused the situation. An official explained that the villagers wanted permanent jobs. “Many job seekers are not suitably qualified or trained for a career in a thermal power station. Also, some had crossed the age limit for employment. To ensure peace at the site, all those who could be taken in are being accommodated.” Now, after crossing these hurdles, test run for heavy equipment like boiler and auxiliaries, including boiler feed pump, cooling water pump, induced and forced draft fans, are over. The key task of providing a multi-circuit overhead line (400 KV) linking the plant with the Nellore-Alamathy-Sriperumbudur 400 KV double circuit transmission line is completed as well. The first unit is now expected to be operational by January 2012, the second unit by May 2012 and third by October 2012. Will that actually happen?