Bangalore: Is Coal Shortage Only Reason for Power Woes?

Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Oct 14: At a time when the state is reeling under power shortage, the question as to whether coal shortage caused by Telangana agitation is the only trigger for this situation has arisen from various quarters. A search for answers has brought out some embarrassing facts.

One of the things that came to light was that the eighth unit of Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) has not at all been operational. An engineer manning the station revealed that the unit, which has a capacity to produce 250 mw of power, is backed by a unique design of boiler-turbine-generator system. None of the other power generators in the country have this design.

Surprisingly, Bharath Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), which manufactured these items, does not have any spares of the unit with it. Without spares, the unit cannot be run. BHEL is expected to manufacture spare parts and provide them to the plant, and it will take some time before it does so, it is learnt.

The officials failed to provide convincing reply for the drastic decline in coal stocks with RTPS, although technical director, Dr H N Narayan Prasad, tried to assign it to stoppage of coal supply from Singareni coal fields.

However, during his meeting with the officials of RTPS, leader of opposition in the state assembly, Siddaramaiah, found out that shortage of coal supply has not been the only reason for the power woes. Siddaramaiah, who visited power plants and held a meeting with the officials, sought figures for the last three months, and found to his dismay that coal supply from Singareni and Western Coal Fields had been more than what was scheduled, in the months of July and August. He therefore, found it hard to digest the state government’s claim that power generation has largely suffered on account of shortage in coal supply.

At present, five units of RTPS except 1, 2, and 3 which are either under maintenance or repairs have been generating 933 mw of power. At the same time, Bellary Thermal Power Station with a capacity of 500 mw, which began generating power on October 3 after closing down for annual repairs, has gradually risen to its production to 405 mw of power, coming out as a beacon of hope for the power-starved state. Executive director of the station, G Ratnamma, says that the stock of coal at the unit is sufficient for 14 days and that the station has been receiving some coal stock every day.