Chennai, Nov 26 (IANS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa termed it as a "strange coincidence" that the central power generating stations and the NTPC-TANGEDCO power joint venture are performing dismally, resulting in a power shortfall of around 2,500 MW in Tamil Nadu.

Jayalalithaa urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to direct the ministry of power and the ministry of coal to take immediate steps "to ensure that these power plants under the control of central agencies maximise their generation and restore the supply of power to Tamil Nadu".

"Continued poor performance by the central PSUs (public sector undertaking) causing shortfall in power supply would only lead the people of Tamil Nadu to come to the conclusion that there is a concerted conspiracy to keep the State in the dark," she wrote in her letter to the prime minister Nov 25, which was released to the media Tuesday.

Referring to the sudden deterioration of the power situation in the state, Jayalalithaa said: "A close analysis reveals that this is primarily due to the shortfall in generation by Central Generating Stations, including our joint venture with NTPC, and by the new thermal power projects under trial production and which are yet to be handed over by M/s. BHEL to Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO)."

According to her, an unexplained fire accident at North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) at its new unit No.2 of 600 MW Nov 16 has resulted in isolation of its twin unit No.1. As a result, there is a loss of 600 MW.

Both the units are under the control of BHEL, Jayalalithaa said.

She said the NTPC-TANGEDCO power joint venture was generating 800 MW out of its two 500-MW units located at Vallur near here due to inadequate supply of coal by Mahanadhi Coalfields Ltd.

Jayalalithaa said the repairs and maintenance work at Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd. has resulted in power supply shortfall of around 336 MW.

"Similarly, one unit of Madras Atomic Power Plant and one unit of Kaiga Atomic Power Plant are also not in service, resulting in a further shortfall of 241 MW. In addition, the Independent Power Project based on naphtha as fuel, M/s. PPN Limited, dedicated to TANGEDCO, is out of service due to inadequate supply of naphtha by M/s. Indian Oil Corporation Limited. This is a frequent occurrence," Jayalalithaa stressed.