There's enough coal, but no way to take it to power plants

A large quantity of coal, in some cases, even double the daily consumption of state-owned plants, is lying at sheds or washery heads waiting to be taken to the power projects operating with low stocks.

A combination of factors including non-availability of railway rakes, inadequate supply by Coal India (CIL), lower captive output, and dues among others have contributed to power plants running on low stock. CIL has asked states to pick up coal by road due to lackof rakes, but power plants insist that it meet the contract commitment and deliver till the agreed point, sources said.

Sources said as on Saturday 270,000 tonnes coal was at washeries, sidings, and rail-cum-road pick-up as against 151,000 tonnes of the daily requirement for Maharashtra State Power Generation Company.


"Rail-cum-road coal of Mahagenco is stacked adjacent to Pandharpaoni Goods shed Siding... due to lack of rakes," a government official said.

Similarly, 26,000 tonnes of coal from WCL is stacked at Rajur, Pandharpaoni Siding and Kirsadoh Siding to be picked up by Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Co. Karnataka Power Corp's 22,000 tonnes is adjacent to Pandharpaoni siding.