Amit Shah chairs meeting with coal and power ministries

Amid concerns over coal shortages in power plants across India, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday chaired a meeting with power minister R K Singh, coal minister Pralhad Joshi and other cabinet leaders incharge of the coal and power ministries.

Amid concerns over coal shortages in power plants across India, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday chaired a meeting with power minister R K Singh, coal minister Pralhad Joshi and other cabinet leaders incharge of the coal and power ministries. The meeting commenced at 2.00 pm.The meeting was attended by senior bureaucrats as well as officials from the state-run energy conglomerate NTPC Limited, according to reports.According to Central Electricity Authority of India data, the country is facing an unprecedented shortage of coal stocks in thermal plants which could lead to a power crisis. On October 5, out of 135 thermal plants that use coal for power generation, 106 or nearly 80 per cent were either in the critical or supercritical stage, i.e. they had stocks only for the next 6-7 days.In a statement on Saturday, the Power Ministry stated four reasons that were creating shortages of coal supply across various states -- unprecedented increase in demand for electricity due to the revival of the economy; heavy rains in coal mine areas during September, 2021, that has adversely affected the coal production as well as despatch of coal from mines; increase in prices of imported coal leading to substantial reduction in power generation; non-building of adequate coal stocks before the onset of monsoon.ALSO READ: Coal supply likely to improve, says govt as states fear power shortage; lists 4 reasons for depletion

An inter-ministerial sub-group led by the Ministry of Coal has been monitoring the coal stock situation in the country twice a week.The ministry said, "It is likely to help in the gradual build up of coal stocks at the power plant in the near future. The coal supply as well as the consequent power situation is likely to improve."Meanwhile, Union Power Minister R K Singh on Sunday stated that there was no power shortage in Delhi and assured that coal supply will be maintained going forward. Singh said the country is four days ahead of the average requirement of coal per day and an “unnecessary panic” was being created over the issue.ALSO READ: Coal shortage in India: Reason to worry or unnecessary panic? | Top developments