Chhattisgarh has answer to Maharashtra’s coal shortage and power crisis in 12 states
The current power shortage in 12 states is primarily due to less supply of coal from Maharashtra, which in turn is seeking immediate allotment of coal block in the neighbouring state of Chhattisgarh.
Maharashtra Energy Minister Nitin Raut said on Tuesday (April 19) said his department is going with micro-level planning to overcome the present crisis. Raut said Maharashtra has not faced load-shedding for the last six days mainly because of this micro-level planning though the power deficit stood at 15 per cent.
“Another reason for coal shortage is lack of rakes (trains). We require 37 rakes per day, while we get only 26. Each rake can transport 4,000 metric tonnes of coal,” Raut said.
The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd (Mahagenco) has been allotted Gare Palma sector-2 coal block in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district.
Raut was in Raipur recently to meet Chhattisgarh CM Rupesh Baghel. They discussed energy-related requirements of Maharashtra. Baghel promised to extend support for the clearance of Gare Palma Sector-2 coal block as per the rules.
Raut told Baghel that in order to ensure the continuity of coal supply to power generation units of Maharashtra, this block is crucial and urged for early completion of all the related formalities and clearances.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government will import one lakh metric tonnes of coal to fulfil the need in the short run. The Union government too has asked states to import coal for up to 10 percent blending to deal with the present crisis.
According to activists, residents of villages which will be affected by the mining in Gare-Palma-sector 2 area have been opposing the project for a long time.
“At least 14 villages, including Gare, Saraitola, Bajarmuda, Karwahi and Dolesara, will be destroyed if mining starts in this area in Tamnar tehsil. Villagers have even passed resolutions in the gram sabha in the past stating they will not give their land for non-agriculture use,” said Rajesh Tripathi, a Raigarh-based environment activist.
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Last month, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had met Baghel seeking to clear hurdles in the development of the coal blocks allotted to the former’s state in Chhattisgarh.
Subsequently, the state government granted final approval to the second phase of Parsa East Kente Basan (PEKB) coal mine and Parsa coal mine located in Surguja division. The two mines were allotted to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RVUNL).
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The country is feeling the heat of coal shortage as electricity demand went up following heatwave-like conditions prevailing in most of north and central India. As per reports, the demand for coal has gone up by almost 10 percent over the previous year.
Stakeholders have also blamed state power discoms for not bringing their reserves up in line with future demand.
India’s coal requirement is expected to go up to 1123 million tonnes (mt) by 2023. Despite having the world’s fourth largest coal reserves, India imports around 235 million tonnes (mt) of coal, of which around 135mt can be been met from domestic reserves.
