Dwindling coal stock across country cause of worry

V K Gupta

Twenty eight thermal plants in the country have less than four days of coal stock for operations. In fact, three plants have zero stock, which has been attributed to various political reasons across the country.

THE DWINDLING coal stock at various thermal plants across the country is a major cause of worry and power supply has been affected in many states. A Central Electricity Authority report, which monitors the coal stock of 86 thermal plants with capacity of 85477 MW, maintains that half of the plants have less than 7 days of coal stock and 28 out of these are in super critical category of having less than 4 days stock. All the 7 thermal plants in Andhra are having less than 4 days coal stock - thus effecting power generation very badly. These include Ramagundam, Rayalseema, Simdhari and Tata Rao.

Share Even in northern India 8 thermal plants comes under super critical category. These include Panipat, Badarpur, Rajghat Chhabra (Rajasthan) and Dadri, Rihand, Singrauli and Unchahar in Uttar Pardesh. Singurauli and Vindhachal thermal plants have zero stock.

The worst affected are thermal plants being run by NTPC. Another turn of events such as heavy rainfall in the coal producing areas in eastern and central parts of the country and disruption of coal supply due to ongoing Telangana agitation has affected the business. Owing to this the NTPC generates products to the tune of more than 4000 MW, which is comparatively less. NTPC power stations at Dadri (NCR), Singrauli and Unchahar in U.P, Vindhyachal in Madhya Pradesh, Farakka and Kahalgaon in the eastern region and Ramagundam and Simhadari in the south have been affected due to shortage of coal.