Chennai: Tamilnadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji has made a shocking claim that about 2.38 lakh tonnes of coal, which was meant to fuel the thermal power plant at Ennore in North Chennai, has gone missing.
The Minister said that the discrepancy between records and the stock on hand came to light when a few senior officials recently inspected the North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS).
“This has happened because of the inefficiency of the AIADMK government. We will set right the irregularities and provide a transparent administration,” the Minister said.
The State-run power utility, Tangedco, has ordered a probe into coal stocks at Tuticorin and Mettur thermal power stations.
He also promised to take impartial action against anyone if there are any irregularities found during the audits.
Senthil Balaji said it is unfortunate that the irregularities to this scale has happened in the electricity department and this is mainly due to the inefficient administration of the previous government.
The coal fired NCTPS sources the raw material from Mahanadhi coalfields Limited (Talchar & IB Valley), Orissa, Eastern coalfields Limited and utilises the sea water as coolant.
The Commercial Operation for NCTPS II (2Ć600 MW) commenced in March 2014 for Unit-I and May the same year for Unit-II.
In late July this year, Senthil Balaji had made a surprise visit to the NCTPS after a few environmental activists had flagged concerns over the work of a coal conveyor belt on the Kosasthalai river.
Some activists had accused the Tangedco (Tamilnadu Generation and Distribution Corporation) of allowing encroachment and contaminating water.
Meanwhile, replying to the allegations made by Senthil Balaji, former AIADMK minister Thangamani said that it is him who ordered to probe the irregularities of the coal stock in the Ennore thermal power plant, and Senthil Balaji is trying to score brownie points from Chief Minister MK Stalin and dismissed any new findings in the statement made by the Minister.