The Udangudi Super Critical Thermal Power Plant will begin generating power by May this year, said Tangedco Chairman and Managing Director J Radhakrishnan after inspecting ongoing works and said the delay was due to labour shortage.

The state government has been constructing Udangudi Super Critical Thermal Power Plant comprising two units of 660 MW capacity each in 2,000 acres of land at Kalankudiyiruppu in Udangudi. The project is being done in three phases at an estimated cost of Rs 13,077 crore to provide uninterrupted power supply to the state.

It is the first project in Tamil Nadu to have its own offshore coal jetty constructed off Kallamozhi coast, at least 8 nautical miles from the shore. The coals will be transported through conveyor belts to the plant.

Radhakrishnan, while speaking to the media, said that the first unit work is expected to be completed by the end of May and will generate electricity. The second unit is likely to be completed in July or August, he said.

"Over 4500 are employed in Unit 1. However, over 40% to 50% of labourers keep leaving," he said and added that BHEL has requested to increase the number of employees.