The Tamil Nadu government is taking all possible steps to make the state a power-surplus one in a year by undertaking projects and also properly maintaining the existing ones, Power Minister, Natham R Vishwanathan said today.

Steps would be taken in three phases - properly maintaining the projects, implementing new ones and also introducing new projects for the future, he said addressing the members of local Chapter of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

A project to generate 3,300 MW would be commissioned by end of 2013. Other projects included two units of 660 MW at Udangudi at a cost of Rs 9,000 crore and two 660 MW units at Ennore which would be commissioned soon with tender being floated within the next fortnight.

On future projects, the minister said environmental clearance was awaited for two units of 800 MW at Uppoor, 800 MW 4th unit at Tuticorin and the ultra Mega power project of 4,000 MW at Cheyur.

Modalities have been worked out for setting up a 4,000 MW thermal power project in collaboration with Chhattisgarh Government on 77:23 ratio, he said.

Similarly, a 1,500 MW project is on the pipeline in association with Neyveli Lignite Corporation, he said, adding, once all these projects started generating, Tamil Nadu would become power-surplus State by 2014-15 and there would be no power cut from middle of 2014.

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