In a major development today, The Union Government denied the demand of Punjab for additional coal. Five Government/Private Thermal Plants in Punjab need 74.6 MT of coal per day but the supply is almost half the requirement so the plants are running and half the capacity.
According to the sources, Union Government has suggested Punjab import coal which is very expensive @ 3350 thousand per MT. The Centre has directed to mix imported coal with indigenous one which seems a far cry for Power Com due to its poor fiscal health. Bent under the burden of subsidies, Power Com is already borrowing from banks to pay salaries and pensions to its employees and is paying INR 1800 Crores as interest only.
The coal position is so precarious in Thermal Plants of Punjab that even a minor delay or breakdown of 1-2 days may result in a major power crisis in the state. As of now, Punjab may start to face a power cut of 3-4 Hrs per day in a few days in all major cities.
It may be mentioned here that even if a single unit of a thermal plant is forced to shut down, INR 40-45 Lacs are required for a re-ignite the same.
Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO has assured that Government will take all the steps needed to ensure an uninterrupted power supply. Government is already in talks with its counterparts in Chattisgarh and officials are monitoring coal excavation as well.
There are two major visible reasons for this shortage of coal. First is that due to the e-auction of coal by Coal India, companies that purchase coal at higher rates are getting priority in supply and secondly, when Punjab needs coal, Railways refuse to cite a shortage of Racks. Even now, Railways have intimated that for swift supply, Punjab will have to pay 15% extra freight.
Can there be another reason too which is between the lines stuff? That AAP and Its head Mr. Arvind Kejriwal have always been at loggerheads with Mr Modi and the Central Government is not a hidden fact anymore. AAP assumed power in Punjab on the promise of a Cheap and Uninterrupted supply of Power in the state. Is this Shortage of coal an attempt to Sabotage AAP and its promises?
Seems Punjab will have to pay for the animosity between the two. If that is politics, it’s really serious and unpardonable.