Coal Shortage: Power Cuts Imposed In Punjab, Delhi Too In Dire Straits

Chandigarh: Severe shortage of coal at thermal power plants has put several states in a spot of bother. Some have few days of stock while some are resorting to load shedding to tackle the crisis. The fingers have been pointed to the Centre for inadequate supply of coal.

In Punjab, coal-fired power plants are operating at a reduced capacity due to shortage of coal, an official of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited said on Saturday.

“Plants are running at a reduced capacity,” the official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. The official added that they were not being run at full capacity to conserve coal.

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi hit out at the Centre on Saturday for insufficient coal supply. Channi apprehended impending shutdown of the state’s thermal power plants.

However, coal shortage crisis also seems to be deepening in Delhi. The Power Minister of the national capital, Satyendra Jain has warned that there is only one day stock of coal left in the thermal power station from where the Union Territory gets electricity.

The Power minister’s statement came in a few hours after Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd sent out phone messages to its customers to use electricity judiciously on Saturday.

According to Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) CEO Ganesh Srinivasan, Coal-based power stations supplying electricity to Delhi have limited coal stocks to meet generation requirements for one-two days against 20 days as per applicable regulations.

“As a result, Delhi might go through intermittent rotational load shedding. However, proactive steps by both Delhi as well as the central government for handling the grim situation are under consideration to arrange or divert coal for power generation,” Srinivasan was quoted as saying by the news agency.

ALSO READ: Dark Days Ahead! Odisha Power Plants May Trip On Coal Crunch