Patiala – A critical coal stock position in a number of thermal plants in the region coupled with low water level in the reservoirs of hydro power stations may lead to a major power crisis in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and their dependence on power purchases from outside may increase. According to highly placed sources in the power sector, as per the latest report of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the coal stocks in all the three private sector thermal plants in Punjab, Khedar and Panipat thermal plants in Haryana and four thermal plants in Rajasthan are currently in a critical position.The sources stated that the coal stock at the 1980MW Talwandi Sabo thermal plant is left for three days, while at the 1400-MW Rajpura thermal plant the stock is for six days only. In Haryana. the 1200-MW Khedar plant has nil stock, while the 920-MW Panipat thermal plant has coal for just two days. In Rajasthan, the 1500-MW Suratgarh thermal and Adani’s 1320MW Kawai thermal plants have three days’ coal stock. The 1240-MW Kota thermal and 1660-MW Chhabra thermal plants have coal stocks to last two and one day, respectively.Besides, while talking about the low water levels at various water reservoirs of various hydro units, the sources said that the water level at the Ranjit Sagar Dam is 15 metres less than the corresponding level last year, whereas the Bhakhra reservoir level is short by about 4 metres. The RSD level is 499.56 metres against last year’s level of 514.59 metres. At the Bhakra reservoir, the water level is 463.24 metres against last year’s level of 467.59 metres. The reduced water level at the Ranjit Sagar Dam and Bhakra Dam implies lesser generation during summer. The sources added that in Punjab, a critical coal stock at private thermal plants, coupled with low water levels in reservoirs, the anticipated generation of power may not be possible.The sources stated that as per CEA guidelines, thermal plants should have a minimum of 21 days coal stock before the onset of the monsoon season. With start of the monsoons, coal mining reduces due to water-logging of open mines. So the coal stocks must be built up by midJune. The sources added that besides the failure of the PSPCL to restart the Pachhwara coal mine will hit not only the PSPCL but also contribute to making coal crisis more acute in the country. Pachhwara could have met about 80 per cent of the PSPCL coal requirements of 4 rakes per day each for the Ropar and Lehra Mohabat plants. It may be mentioned here that the Coal Ministry was earlier clubbed with the Power Ministry and now it is with the Railway Ministry. The Coal Ministry needs an independent minister to remove the shortage of rail wagons which is a constraint in coal movement.

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