Power Minister Hits Out At Oppn Over Power Crises, Says Adequate Coal Reserves Available

Power Minister RK Singh refuted the charges of oppn on power crises saying the country has an average coal reserve that can last for more than 4 days and the stock is replenished every day.

New Delhi: Union Power Minister RK Singh refuted the charges of the Opposition on shortage in coal supply to power plants and reassured that there were no threats to the power supply and coal dispatches will increase in the coming days.

In response to the fears that the power crisis is looming large in some states including the national capital, Singh said, “We have an average coal reserve (at power stations) that can last for more than four days. The stock is replenished every day. I am in touch with (Union Minister for Coal and Mines) Pralhad Joshi.”

Following his meeting with the power distribution companies in Delhi, Singh clarified that there was no “crisis” of power supply in Delhi. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday raised concerns about the power issue asking whether one particular private company is benefitting from the coal crisis.

Ramesh tweeted, “Suddenly we are hearing of a crisis in coal supply to power plants. Is one particular private company making a fortune out of this crisis? But who will investigate?”

Lashing out at the Congress, Singh said the party had run out of ideas. “They are running out of votes and therefore are running out of ideas as well,” said Singh as per news agency ANI. Dismissing rumors spread by the opposition, Singh said the demand for coal is actually a sign of the economy recovering after the brutal second Covid wave brought economic activity to a standstill.

He also dismissed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s concerns over a potential power crisis in the union territory, which had led the CM to seek Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention. The power minister met officials from Delhi’s power ministry, Bombay Suburban Electric Supply (BSES) company, and Tata Power to discuss the issue of coal shortage in power plants.

RK Singh hit back at the letter written by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the Prime Minister regarding the power crisis in Delhi, saying that the Chief Minister of Delhi is writing a letter to the Prime Minister, while he did not consider it appropriate to even talk to the Ministry of Power. He said last evening the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi informed about the letter written by Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal to the Prime Minister after which the officials associated with Delhi's electricity distribution company were called in the meeting.

The Ministry of Power came to know that there was a stir in Delhi because the electricity distribution companies of Delhi were informed by GAIL i.e. Gas Authority of India Limited that their gas supply contract is expiring, hence the gas supply will be disrupted.

"After getting information from GAIL, the electricity distribution companies of Delhi created a stir by sending messages to the consumers. Whereas the reality is that Delhi is getting as much electricity as it needs and will continue to get it." according to Singh. 

Minister of Coal and Mines, Pralhad Joshi also tweeted to say that Coal India Limited currently has 43 million tonnes of coal stock which is sufficient to meet the demands of the next 24 days.

“Assuring everyone that there is absolutely no threat of disruption in power supply. There is sufficient coal stock of 43 million tonnes with @CoalIndiaHQ equivalent to 24 days of coal demand,” he tweeted.