Cong seeks Modi’s plan to ensure power supply

On April 20, 2022, I told the Modi govt to stop running the bulldozer of hatred and start power plants of the country, today the coal and electricity crisis has created havoc in the entire country. I am saying it again — this crisis will destroy small industries, due to which unemployment will increase further. Small children cannot stand this scorching heat. The lives of patients admitted in hospitals are at stake. There will be financial loss by stopping rail, metro services. Modiji, do you not care about the country and the people. —RAHUL GANDHI, Congress leader

The Congress on Friday asked PM Modi to lay out his plans for ensuring electricity supply as the people are suffering power cut of 6-10 hours in as many as 16 states and the situation will worsen in May.

He said many states have imposed power cuts because 72,074 MW capacity power stations are not operating because of the coal crisis. The daily coal demand is 22 lakh tonnes, but supplies from the Centre-controlled coal mines are limited to 16 lakh tonnes, he said and yet the PM blames states for the coal shortage as their responsibility. Ask any question and Modi wriggles out saying it is the states' responsibility, he said. “Our question is why many coal-based power stations are not operating. Of the 173 power plants in the country, 106 are having 25% or even less coal stock they are mandatorily required to maintain,” Congress spokesman Prof Gourav Vallabh told a Press conference in Delhi.

He said the total demand of power in may will be 2.2lakh MW, so Modi should reveal his government's plan to supply this much power. He demanded the artificial power crisis created due to mismanagement of coal should be immediately resolved.

Gourav said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has exposed the PM's appeal to the states to reduce taxes on petrol and diesel at a time when they do not have funds to run the governments. She admitted Rs78,704 crore of GST due are pending from the Centre to the states, he pointed out.

Prof Gourav Vallabh said the lack of governance and coordination leading the country towards an imminent power breakdown.

He reported the data from the energy exchange at 10.45 am on Friday that showed the supply was 2,304 MW as against the demand of 16,035 MW, which means the supply is only one-seventh of the demand. At the time of the press conference, he said the demand will be 25,000 MW and the supply 2,000 MW. If the states want to maintain some semblance of power supply, they have to buy electricity from the central feeder at Rs12 per unit.

Delhi’s peak demand tops 6,000 MW again; 38% surge since Apr 1

As the national capital continues to reel under an intense heatwave, the peak power demand on Friday crossed the 6,000 MW-mark for the second day in a row, discom officials said. According to real-time data of State Load Dispatch Centre, Delhi, the city’s peak power demand clocked 6,197 MW, an increase of over 38% from April 1, at 3:31 pm on Friday. The peak power demand has increased by 7.1% in just 48 hours, officials said.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot tweeted: “This is a national crisis. I appeal to everyone to unite in this crisis and support the government in improving the situation. Turn off non-essential electrical appliances at your home or workplace. Set your priorities and use electricity in accordance with your need.”

Hry CM meets Union Minister

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar met Union Minister of Power RK Singh on Friday and discussed measures to ensure uninterrupted power supply in Haryana. The Union Minister agreed that 300 MW from the Kameng Hydro Electric project will be supplied to Haryana. “CM of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar met me and discussed issues of the Power sector of Haryana. It was agreed that 300 MW from Kameng Hydro Electric project will be supplied to Haryana,” Singh tweeted.