Bhopal: The newly-formed Kamal Nath-led government in Madhya Pradesh, which is already battling an acute the shortage of urea, is now faced with another crisis: a potential power shortage due to diminishing coal stocks in major power plants.
Four prominent power plants in the state are left with only one to two days’ worth of coal stocks and any delay in its supply could lead to a power shortage, the sources claimed.
However, officers from the Department of Energy, have said that the situation is not out of control yet as power plants are being supplied coal stocks in excess of the daily requirements. The department is also busy enhancing the coal supplies, they said.
Four major power plants, including Singaji, Chachai (Amarkantak), Birsinghpur and Satpura, require around 60,000 metric tonnes of coal daily, and the problem arises from the fact that cola supplies are almost in the same range due to which the plants are not able to compile additional stocks.
Whatever quantity of coal these plants require they get from the central pool, but these facilities have minimal stocks. So if the supplies are ever hindered for a day or two, the power generation could face a serious impact.
Power plant at Amarkantak has 49,580 metric tonne coal, Birsinghpur plant has 24, 940 metric tonne, Singaji plant has 30,855 tonne and the Satpura thermal power plant has 22,706 metric tonne left in stock. In all, these thermal power plants require 60,000 metric tonne coal per day to stay afloat.
Various public sector companies are supplying 15 to 20 racks of coal on a daily basis and the MP government is trying hard to increase the supply.
The potential power shortage has also led to trolling on the social media, with many Twitter users comparing the Congress’ government with the tenure of former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh when MP had plunged into a deep power crisis after most power plants were pocketed by Chhattisgarh which carved out of the central state in 2000. With the season of rabi, a winter crop, at its peak, the demand for power is now around 13,000 MW in the state.
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