Consumers oppose directive to cover coal wagons with tarp

Kolkata: A recent directive by the environment ministry that coal wagons should be covered with tarpaulin is facing some resistance from a section of consumers although it will have a marginal impact on costs.

In a gazette notification, the environment ministry removed stipulations of ash content or distance for transporting coal by thermal power plants but made tarpaulin covers mandatory to curb pollution.

The cost would rise by ₹5.5 per tonne of coal although there would be other issues, an executive at a power firm said. “Rakes does not necessarily return to the same customer after coal delivery. This will necessitate the requirement of returning these covers to the source of coal by the consumer before the next delivery is to be made possibly on trucks requiring rise in costs,” he said.