Piyush Goyal blames UPA government for coal shortage in power sector

MUMBAI: Union Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal today blamed "rampant corruption and lopsided policies" of the previous UPA government for the coal shortage that has impacted power generation in the country.

"Our coal production during the past five years has not gone up at all, while demand for coal has increased by almost 50 percent. Power generation has also increased during this period.

"Thanks to rampant corruption and the lopsided policies of the past government, we have come to a position which did not allow coal mines to open and raise production," Goyal said, talking to reporters after launching the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna in the city.

The Western Regional Grid witnessed a loss in generation of 3,143 mw on August 26 as many plants were hit by coal shortages, according to the Western Regional Load Despatch Centre.

"We have come to a situation where the country is starved of coal. Our government has inherited a legacy of the coal mines stuck in court cases. Coal producing mines are stuck with restrictions on their output because of policies of the erstwhile regime," Goyal said.

He refused to give a direct answer when asked whether there is a possibility of a massive breakdown of generation.

On the impending Supreme Court order on the coal scam, Goyal said hopefully the verdict will bring some "finality" to the problem.