Delhi's coal-stocks depleting alarmingly. Dark days ahead for the capital?
What's the story
Delhi is staring at a severe power crisis, as stocks are getting depleted from all three coal-based thermal power plants in the city. There's a daily deficit of 970MW, and with temperatures hitting 45 degrees for the past week, demand and consumption of power have increased manifold. Since the national capital gets 80% of its power through coal-fired plants, the picture is indeed grim.
Problem
Minister confirms shortage, but NTPC says situation improving
Delhi Power Minister Satyender Jain confirmed the situation saying that only 5% of coal stock is left. "These power plants now have coal stocks that can run the plant to its full capacity only for 20-21 hours," he added. NTPC Limited, which runs the plants in Badarpur, Dadri and Jhajjar, admitted to the shortage, but assured that "situation has been improving."
Information
Coal India, Railways pitch in to avert crisis
To help the situation, Coal India and Railways have supplemented the Badarpur and Dadri plants with their stock. "Against the linked requirement of seven rakes to these plants, movement of at least 10 rakes are planned to avert the crisis," read the May-26 press release.
Crisis
Jain blamed Piyush Goyal-run Railways, coal ministry for shortage
To supply power to Delhi at normal capacity, the three coal-based power plants (in Dadri, Jhajjar and Badarpur) generate 2,325MW on a daily basis. However, owing to a spike in demand, the plants are churning out 1,355MW daily, reporting a shortfall of 970MW. Jain blamed the Railways and coal ministry, both run by Piyush Goyal, for the looming crisis.
Twitter Post
AAP talks about the crisis
"Three Powerplants in Delhi which run on Coal have only 24 hrs coal stock left to run power plant. We have pre-informed about this issue. Railway is lagging in coal supply."- @SatyendarJain pic.twitter.com/4OVAQpZMvU
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) May 28, 2018
Who's to blame?
Railways says 'steps taken', Coal-India says 'Delhi could've planned better'
Jain claimed to have written to Goyal on May 17, asking for his intervention, but is yet to receive any reply. However, a railway official denied the claim, saying the Union Minister has already issued instructions to improve "the turnaround time of rakes by better scheduling of trains." Meanwhile, Coal India pointed out the Delhi government should have planned the exigency better.
Discoms
Depleted coal stock proving costly for discoms as well
Delhi's depleted coal supply is also stinging the discoms. Officials of all three discoms- Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and BSES Yamuna Power Limited- said they're being forced to procure "power through alternate arrangements such as bilaterals and exchanges with other states." The 'alternate arrangements' are very expensive costing Rs. 10 per unit, with no respite in sight, sighed officials.