Lok Sabha Question No. 2086 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-10
Subject: Production of Power by NLC
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2086

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2016

## Production of Power by NLC.

## 2086.   Shri VENKATESH BABU T.G:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- a) the quantity of power produced by Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) during the last three years and the current year;
- b) Whether operation  of  mines  and  power  production  by  NLC  was  affected  due  to  incessant  rain, flood and water logging in the last monsoon;
- c) If so, the details thereof and the estimated loss thereof  and the extent to which power production has been affected;
- d) Whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  restore  the  operation  of  mines  and  power production in NLC; and
- e) If so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OFSTATE (IC) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, POWER   AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) : The quantity of power produced by Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) during the last three years and current year up to February 2016 are furnished below:

| Particulars of Generation of TPS (In MU)   | Generation (Million units)   | Generation (Million units)   | Generation (Million units)   | Generation (Million units)   |
|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
| Particulars of Generation of TPS (In MU)   | 2015-16(Upto Feb.'2016)      | 2014-15                      | 2013-14                      | 2012-13                      |
| TPS-I                                      | 2842.42                      | 3631.05                      | 4058.14                      | 4035.43                      |
| TPS-I Exp                                  | 2949.86                      | 3385.03                      | 3292.10                      | 3319.77                      |
| TPS-II                                     | 9525.56                      | 11131.33                     | 11179.16                     | 11238.09                     |
| TPS-II Exp **                              | 819.83                       | 199.57                       | 21.01                        | 28.20                        |
| TPS-Barsingsar                             | 1177.49                      | 1380.71                      | 1438.24                      | 1280.85                      |
| Wind Power**                               | 23.41                        | 1.44                         | -                            | -                            |
| Solar Power**                              | 7.13                         | -                            | -                            | -                            |
| Total                                      | 17345.70                     | 19729.13                     | 19988.65                     | 19902.34                     |

(b)&  (c): Neyveli  received  persistent  rainfall  for  23  days  during  November-December,  2015 resulting  in  disruption  of  Mining  and  power  generation  activities.There  was  anunprecedented rainfallof around 435 mm in 8 hourson 9 th November 2015 which is  the highest ever rainfall (in a day) since inception of NLC. During the month of November 2015 and during December 2015, rain fall of 943 mm and 424 mm respectively were recorded in Neyveli. All the mines of Neyveli got  flooded  and  water  entered  into  many  of  its  power  stations  throwing  the  production  and generation  out  of  gear.  Almost  entire  mining  operation  was  paralyzed  and  there  was  a  huge setback in power generation as all the pit head power stations suffered from lack of lignite supply and slushy lignite apart from technical problems faced due to entry of  flood water in to power stations.

Due to  heavy  rain  fall  and  unprecedented  floods,a  total  shortfall  of  14.02  LT  of  lignite production and 567.23 MU of power generation at Neyveli during  the months of November 2015 and  December 2015 occurred..

(d) &(e) :At NLC pre monsoon preparations are done meticulously to prevent loss of production, men and machinery due to rain. However due to the unprecedented heavy rainfall of this quantum during November/ December 2015, the severest one of its kind in last 100 years in the region, the OB  systems  and  the  lignite  bench  system  in  all  the  mines  and  generation  of  power  came  to standstill    during  this  heavy  rainfall  and  consequential  floods.    During  the  heavy  rainfall  many feeders at Mines sub-station tripped due to the gusty winds and waves, water entered the Storm Water Control (SWC) pontoons and  a number of   pontoons commissioned in sumps got  submerged.  Due to tripping of feeders and submerging of pontoons, the SWC pumping  and  Ground Water  Control  (GWC)  pumping  were    seriously  affected  immediately  after  rains.    District Administration did not allow pumping out the water from the flooded mines (with apprehension of over  flooding  of  surrounding  villages),  which  worsened  the  situation  and  resulted  in  delay  of bringing back the system. Power Generation was badly affected due to the heavy rainfall and also due to difficulties faced in transfer of slushy lignite and poor transportation of  furnace oil from Chennai, affected due to Chennai flooding.

After the rainfall was over the production systems in Mines and Thermal power stations were re-commissioned after resolving issues in a phased manner and by the 3 rd week of December 2015, normalcy was restored by speedy recovery actions.

All  out  efforts  are  being  made  in  the  IV th quarter  of  2015-16  to  restore  /  maximize  the production of lignite and power generation in order to achieve the annual targets.

****