The Ministry of Coal on Sunday said that Maharashtra is receiving more coal at present (in April) than in March 2022. The Ministry also stated the western state is able to meet its coal demand after Maharashtra energy minister Nitin Raut alleged that some plants in Maharastra are just left with 3-6 days of coal reserves, blaming the Centre for the state’s power cuts.
The Ministry statement further added that Maharashtra’s Thermal Power Plants (TPP) were supplied with 70.77 Million Ton (MT) of coal during the financial year 2021-22. The coal supply to thermal plants is increasing in tandem with an increase in demand for power, it further claimed.
As per Ministry data, in March 2022, coal supply to power plants of Maharashtra was 2.14 lakh ton per day. The same has been stepped up to 2.76 lakh ton per day in the ongoing month of April, till 11.04.2022.
Raut, in a statement to news agency ANI on Friday, blamed the Centre for botching the supply of gas and water, which, he added, was leading to problems for power-producing stations.
“Some plants in Maharashtra are left with one and a half days of coal, some with three days and some others with six days of coal. The state government is working to resolve the power crisis,” said Raut.
In the statement on Sunday, the Coal Ministry further added that Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco) has been supplied with 37.131 MT coal in 2021-22. The daily coal supply to Mahagenco in March 22 was 0.96 lakh tons per day which has been increased further to 1.32 lakh tons per day in April (till 11.04.22). It is equally pertinent that the coal requirement of Maharashtra is being met despite Mahagenco having outstanding dues of nearly Rs 2,390 crore, it added.
Raut also attacked the Centre for not fulfilling its commitment to supply water and APM gas to the state for necessary power production.
“Water resources minister has been asked to supply water for hydroelectricity generation. But Koyna Dam is left with 17 TMCs of water, one TMC is needed every day to generate electricity,” he added.
“They (Centre) are not providing us with the same (APM gas). Maharashtra government has to provide Rs 2200 crores to the central government. They have told us to give them the money first and only then will they provide us with coal,” alleged Raut.
“If load-shedding has to be resolved then coal, water and gas are needed,” Raut further added.
