Shortage of coal for power could leave Delhi in the dark

Since June 19, the coal stock is continuously declining and has reached approximate 65,000 mega tonne on Wednesday

NEW DELHI: Residents of Delhi-ncr could soon face a power blackout, as the coal reserves with the Delhi government were only for a-dayand-a-half, said Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday, who has written to Union Power Minister RK Singh on the issue.

In the letter, Jain informed the minister about the coal supply shortage to the NCR power plants – Dadri, Jhajjar and Badarpur.

“Since June 19, the coal stock is continuously declining and has reached approximate 65,000 mega tonne on Wednesday, which is only one-and-ahalf days’ requirement,” the Delhi minister wrote, adding that the situation is extremely critical.

As per norms, the stock has to be maintained for at least 15 days ahead period.

The reason he gave for the shortage is the non-availability of transportation rakes with the railways. Jain requested Singh to “intervene personally and take up the matter with the Railways for providing rakes on priority for transportation of coal to these power plants to avoid a blackout in Delhi”.

Satyendar Jain Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Jain said that ideally, power plants should have a reserve coal stock for 15 days.

He also said that the power demand was high during this season. It was the second time in the season that such a warning was issued.

In May also, the issue had arisen as the coal reserves of the Capital had been reduced to a day.