RK Singh, opposed panicking on power crisis!

 

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No power crisis, no need to panic, enough stock of coal for power production: R K Singh

'No power crisis, panic was unnecessarily created': Minister RK Singh over coal shortage claims

Synopsis

Earlier, power discom Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) CEO Ganesh Srinivasan said coal shortage across the country has led to reduced power generation and Delhi might go through intermittent rotational load shedding in coming days.

By ANI

Last Updated: Oct 10, 2021, 04:36 PM IST

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Union Power Minister R K Singh refuted claims of power crisis looming large in the country and said that there is no need for panic as there is no power crisis, adding that there is enough coal reserve for power production in the country.

Speaking to ANI Union Power Minister R K Singh said, "The first thing I want to say is that this panic was unnecessarily created without any reason, the panic was created because the CMD of GAIL has sent a message to Bawana gas power plant that it will stop supplying gas after 2 days because their contract was about to expire. I've asked GAIL CMD, who participated in today's meeting, to continue the required supplies and warn both DISCOM CEO and GAIL CMD that such a thing should not repeat and if such irresponsible behaviors happen then we will take action."

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Singh reacted sharply to Congress' criticism over the issue and said, "They do not have issues, create any issue so trying to create issues but we are supplying as much power as need and we will continue to do so, there should be no doubt, tell us we give as much power as to where they won't tell me, this is unnecessary politics," R K Singh said

Singh further attacked the Congress and said, "This Congress party's wind that has gone slowly dying out, they don't have any issue, that's why they create an issue and as far as Kejriwal's question is concerned, they don't even know if there is any problem then know from power Ministry or tell us."

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"We have an average coal reserve (at power stations) that can last for more than 4 days. The stock is replenished every day. I am in touch with (Union Minister for Coal and Mines) Pralhad Joshi," Singh told reporters over the power crisis issue.

Singh further told the reporters that Delhi is being supplied the required amount of electricity and it will continue

Earlier today, the officials of Delhi's Power Ministry, BSES and Tata power reached the residence of Union Power Minister RK Singh for a meeting over coal shortage at power plants.

Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain yesterday cautioned that there could be a complete blackout in the national capital after two days if power plants supplying electricity to the national capital do not receive an immediate supply of coal.

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In order to resolve the power crisis in Delhi, Jain said that the government is even ready to buy expensive electricity at present.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also warned that the national capital could face a power crisis.

"I am personally keeping a close watch over the situation. We are trying our best to avoid it," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

He also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday saying that there is a coal shortage situation that has affected the power generation plants supplying power to national capital territory and requested him to intervene in the matter.

On same issue NDTV Says:

Amid Blackout Concern, Coal Shortage Fears, Centre's Assurance: 10 Points

Coal shortage: Several states, including Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Tamil Nadu, raised concerns over blackouts.

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All India  Reported by Sunil Prabhu, Edited by Arun Nair

Updated : October 10, 2021 4:23 pm IST

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The huge coal shortage affecting power plants will be handled in the next few days, the Centre said as several states, including Delhi, raised concerns over impending blackouts. The shortage is due to a hike in global coal prices, the Centre said.

Here are the top 10 updates on this big story:

1. Several states, including Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Tamil Nadu, have raised concerns over blackouts. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, warned that the national capital "could face a blackout" in the next two days if coal supplies to power plants do not improve.

2. Punjab has already imposed rotational load shedding at several places due to the severe coal shortage at thermal power plants. The plants are left with coal stock of up to five days, an official of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India.

3. A "panic has been unnecessarily created about coal shortage" and this is due to miscommunication from GAIL and Tata, Union minister for power RK Singh said today. The country has four days' reserve, he said. "We have sufficient power available... We are supplying power to the entire country. Whoever wants, give me a requisition and I will supply them," the minister said.

4. The supply, he said, routinely drops during monsoon as the mines get flooded, but the demand remains high especially with the growing economy. In October, as the demands drop, the stockpiles will start growing again. "Earlier, we used to have 17 days of coal stock from November till June," he added.

5. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today said the centre's statement that all is well with the coal stock situation is "irresponsible". Mr Sisodia drew parallels with the medical oxygen shortage in Delhi during the COVID-19 second wave. "When we had an oxygen crisis, they kept saying there was no such crisis. The coal situation is similar. We have a crisis today," Mr Sisodia said.

6. On Saturday, Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi had said that the increase in the international price of coal and heavy rainfall in the country this year contributed to its shortage. "If you compare with the past many years, coal production and dispatch have been the highest in September and especially in October. In another three to four days, things will be alright," Mr Joshi was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

7. An inter-ministerial sub-group led by the Coal Ministry has been monitoring the coal stock situation twice a week, it said in a statement on Saturday. The ministry has assured that they are making efforts to send 1.6 metric tonnes of coal a day in the next three days and will try to reach 1.7 MT a day.

8. The government listed four reasons for the depletion of coal stocks at power plants -- the unprecedented increase in demand for electricity due to revival of the economy, heavy rains in coal mine areas, increase in the price of imported coal and legacy issues such as heavy dues of coal companies in certain states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

9. Chhattisgarh has said that it is making efforts to ensure that there is no shortage of supply in the state. "Our officials are making continuous efforts to maintain the supply of coal in the state. Officials are monitoring the situation. Efforts are being made to ensure that there is no shortage of supply," Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said.

10. In south, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "urgent personal attention" calling the situation "quite alarming". "The power sector is being pushed into turmoil because of coal shortage," the Chief Minister pointed out.