Week’s coal stock left: Punjab CM’s SOS to Centre

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 3

Power rates at the national exchange have shot up following low availability of coal, leaving Punjab and many other states staring at another crisis with various thermal plants, both private and state-owned, left with less than a week’s stock now.

To ensure timely supply, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has written to the union power ministry.

The dwindling coal stock at all thermal plants across the country is leading to increase in power purchase prices through power exchanges manifold. However, the demand in Punjab is gradually coming down following less demand in fields, so the state is managing with the limited coal stock.

According to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) officials, the demand in the state has dipped after the paddy season but is still around 8,600 MW, down from the earlier peak demand of 15,500 MW.

The thermal generation in Punjab is about 780 lakh units, which is 40 per cent of the total demand of about 1,920 lakh units. As against the 30-day coal stocks, majority of the plants are facing acute shortage of coal due to poor supplies.

In Punjab, the coal stock at all three private thermal plants is in critical condition.

The Rajpura plant has little over four days of coal stock, Talwandi Sabo power project three days and Goindwal Sahib power plan has two days’ coal stock left. The state thermal plants of Lehra Mohabatt and Ropar have seven and nine days of coal stock left, respectively.

As per officials, all five thermal plants in the state are currently running with two units each of all the three private sector plants, while in state sector two units of Ropar plant and three units of Lehra Mohabatt plant are providing power.

“Across India, the overall power demand has increased but coal stocks in more than half of the thermal plants have become very critical, resulting in no generation at more than 34 plants. Meanwhile, 38 thermal plants have less than three days of coal stock,” said VK Gupta of All India Power Engineers’ Federation (AIPEF).

“The installed capacity of thermal plants in India is about 50 per cent of the total installed capacity. Even in Punjab, the surge in power demand, which started in August, led to the depletion of coal stock across the country. To cope with the coal shortage, the supply to those having stock of 15 days was stopped for a week,” he said.

PSPCL CMD A Venu Prasad told The Tribune that the coal “stocks were on lower side”. “The CM has written a demi-official letter to the Power Minister. But our demand has also reduced as paddy season is over now,” he added.

Meeting to pick PPSC chief held

Chandigarh: The CM held a meeting with Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana KP Singh and Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema to select the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Chairman. Sources say the three candidates under consideration are BK Uppal, Chief Director, State Vigilance Bureau; Lt Gen IS Ghuman (retd), former Army Commander; and JS Powar, former DG, National Academy of Audits and Accounts.

Channi to keep 1 of 4 CM bungalows

  • As part of ‘austerity measures’, Charanjit Channi will keep only one of the four bungalows allotted to ex-CM Capt Amarinder Singh
  • Sources say barring bungalow No. 45, to be used as the CM’s residence, the rest — Nos. 6, 7 and 44 — can be allotted to other ministers. Bungalow No. 46, already in Channi’s possession during his term as minister, will be used as his office premises
  • Bungalow No. 46 is considered to be Channi’s lucky charm, as it was during his stay there that he was elevated as CLP leader in 2015
  • Besides, the government may open for public use a slip road adjoining the CM’s residence, closed following Beant Singh’s assassination

Week’s coal stock left: Punjab CM’s SOS to Centre
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