UP asks Centre to solve coal shortage

Uttar Pradesh is facing coal shortage at state-owned power generating units and private plants, despite the Centre’s claim of abundant supply.

In a letter addressed to Piyush Goyal, Union minister of state for coal, power, mines, new and renewable energy, UP Power Minister Shrikant Sharma said the generating stations in the state were facing coal shortage as railway rakes were delivering less than required. “Independent power producers (IPPs) and state generating stations are still not getting sufficient quantity of coal to generate power according to their full capacity,” said the letter dated Friday, reviewed by Business Standard.

The letter mentioned that despite discussions with the Centre in May and August, the situation hasn’t improved. “In order to further improve generation and power supply position in the state, we seek your kind intervention once again to issue necessary instructions to the authorities concerned to supply coal as per requirement,” said the letter.

Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) supplies coal to NTPC and state and private plants in Uttar Pradesh. Railways lines in CCL for seamless transport of coal are yet to be commissioned, three years after its announcement, said state officials. Coal Secretary Susheel Kumar did not respond to request for comments and CCL chairman and managing director could not be reached.