'Handiwork Of Incompetent Modi Govt': Rahul Gandhi Slams Centre Over Coal, Power Crisis

Coal inventories have reportedly dipped to the lowest since 2014 at the beginning of the financial year to nine days as against the Centre's mandated 24 days' worth of stocks.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing a press conference. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday once again took a pod-shot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government over the fear of power crisis in the country due to the shortage of coal. In a Facebook post, Rahul Gandhi said that India is in the midst of a severe power crisis and pointed out that common people are forced to bear 8-hour power cuts in most of the states.

The former Congress president also said that he had warned Modi government  that lack of coal stocks will spell torment for the country as power demand have peaked.

Instead of addressing the issue, the govt issued a denial, he said in the Facebook post.

"Some states are even being forced to ‘import’ coal. Remember COVID, when the govt abdicated it’s responsibility towards India? Various states were forced to become ‘Atma Nirbhar’, and had to explore the option of importing oxygen cylinders. The same thing is happening with coal too," Rahul Gandhi wrote.

The Wayanad MP also claimed that 106 of 165 coal plants have reached a critical stage with respect to coal stocks - less than 25% stock left. "We have only 21.55 million tonnes of coal in stock. The total required stock is 66.32 million tonnes," his post read.

Rahul Gandhi's remarks came in wake of reports that coal stock position at the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) supervised 173 power plants was lower than the prescribed level.

Several media reports suggest that coal inventories had dipped to the lowest since 2014 at the beginning of the financial year to nine days as against the Centre's mandated 24 days' worth of stocks.

Even last week, Rahul Gandhi alleged there were only eight days of coal stock left in India. Several states including Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Jharkhand and Rajasthan are reportedly facing coal crisis.

Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh too are likely to face a bigger electricity crisis as the backup coal stocks for thermal power plants have started depleting this month.

Experts believe that the coal shortage may worsen during the monsoon when the supplies fall short annually due to rain and floods that disrupt mining and transportation.