Bangalore: Without Coal, Thermal Plants may have to be Shut: Shobha

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Dec 9: The severe shortage of coal hampering power generation in the thermal power plants in Karnataka figured in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Friday again with Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje coming with a dire warning that the State may be forced to shut down all its thermal power plants if sufficient supply of coal was not ensured.

Replying to a question from Independent member Goolihatt D Shekar in the Assembly, the minister said the Raichur thermal power station, which is one of the main thermal power generating station in the State, had a stock of hardly 37,000 tonnes of coal.

The coal stock was 4.7 lakh tonnes in April at the Raichur thermal power plant against its actual requirement of 7 lakh tonnes, the minister said.

The minister said has been concerted efforts to impress upon the Centre to rush to the rescue of the State by ensuring adequate supplies of coal and the Chief Minister had personally written to the Union Coal Minister. Meanwhile, the State had even taken a delegation to Delhi to request the Centre to ensure that the State’s requirement for coal was met.

''We are still hoping for a positive response from the Centre,” she said pointing out that the State would be facing a severe power shortage as the summer season picks up.

Karandlaje said the State Government had already taken steps for purchase of 500 mw of power from Jindal Power Ltd and negotiations were underway to get another 150 mw from the company.

The State Government is making efforts to buy power from Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, she added.