Coal supply to power projects on priority being reviewed: Govt

NEW DELHI: Ministries of coal and power are regularly reviewing the coal supply to power projects on priority, Parliament was informed today.

"Several meetings have been held under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary to discuss issues of supplying coal to power projects on priority...the matter is regularly reviewed by Ministry of Coal with Ministry of Power," Minister of State for Coal PP Patil told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

Several parts of the country were reeling under severe power crisis during the last two months due to an acute coal shortage.

Patil said coal companies have been advised to ensure priority movement of the fuel to power stations.

"Coal India Ltd (CIL) has been advised to improve the loading of coal to the power utilities on priority basis... the average rail-loading from CIL sources had increased to about 181 rakes per day, out of which on an average 143.6 rakes were dispatched to the power sector," Patil said.

The average rail loading during September and October was 146 rakes and 158 rakes a day, respectively.

Besides, CIL offered additional 5.06 million tonnes (MT) to power utilities in October, he said.

"Ministry of Coal decided in consultation with Ministry of Power that CIL would allocate the monthly coal quantity offered under e-auction by various subsidiaries to the power utilities," Patil said.

The Coal Ministry earlier has attributed the shortage of coal to a number of factors, including lower production by Coal India on account of heavy rains in August-September and a strike at Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL), which has been called off.