NALCO coal stortage resolved

NALCO had faced coal shortage last month as well following less supply by Mahandadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL). But the situation had been resolved following intervention of the government.

Production at Bharatpur mines, from which Nalco captive power plant's supply was sourced, was only 6,000 mt against the normal 35,000 mt. NALCO's current crisis, could also be partially attributed to stoppage of rakes supplied by the Railways for transportation of coal to NALCO. Meanwhile, the National Confederation of Officers' Associations (NCOA) has drawn the attention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the critical situation being faced by NALCO due to fall in coal supply.

In a letter to Singh, NCOA vice-president B C Ray alleged that though NALCO had developed the Bharatpur Colliery, coal produced from there were also being sold to other parties. NALCO needed 15,000 tonnes of coal per day while it was observed that about 1,00,000 tonnes was being moved out of MCL mines in Talcher area to Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Alleging that NALCO being a PSU was facing "neglect" by another PSU, Coal India Ltd, Ray sought the intervention of Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for coal linkage to NALCO. Ray wanted to know if PSUs like NALCO and NTPC could not be supplied their requirement of coal, how could it be supplied to the proposed new power plants and steel projects. There should be a clear cut policy on coal supply before new industries were set up, he said.