R K Singh Union Power Minister clears speculation about power shortage. He has clarified that there is no power shortage in Delhi. Singh has given assurity that coal supply will be maintained.
R K Singh said while addressing a press conference on the purported coal shortage crisis , he chaired a meeting with BSES officials, the NTPC and power ministry earlier in the day . R K Singh has finally confirmed that there was no problem related to supply and demand channels that could pose a power crisis.
“Yesterday evening, LG Delhi spoke with me about a letter written by Delhi CM regarding possible power supply disruption. I communicated to him that our officials are monitoring the situation and no such issue would arise,” the minister said.
The stress over power shortage begins only because the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) has sent a letter to Delhi discoms about stopping gas supply but it is because their contract is ending, R K Singh explains.
“I have asked the GAIL CMD to continue supplying the required amount of gas to power stations across the country. He has assured me that the supplies will continue. Neither was there any shortage of gas in the past, nor will it happen in the future,” he said.
“I have also stated that the necessary PPAs should be maintained and there should be no shortage of power supply. I have also warned Tata power over the alleged message sent to consumers regarding a possible disruption of power,” the power minister further adds.
Singh clearifies that ‘ the country is four days ahead of the average requirement of coal per day and an “unnecessary panic” was being created over the issue.’
Singh said, “The Congress party has run out of ideas. We have adequate power supply” over Congress leaders tweeting about coal shortages
According to Central Electricity Authority of India data, the country is facing an unprecedented shortage of coal stocks across thermal plants which could lead to a power crisis. On October 5, out of 135 thermal plants that use coal for power generation, 106 or nearly 80 per cent are either in critical or super critical stage, i.e. they have stocks only for the next 6-7 days.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the people of the national capital may face power crisis due to shortage of coal. Along with this, he urged the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deliver coal and gas to the generating plants supplying electricity in the national capital. Delhi’s Power Minister Satyendar Jain said the crisis averted for two days after the gas supply at the Bawana plant was restored. He said there could be a ‘blackout’ in the national capital if power is not supplied by NTPC Ltd in the coming days. The minister also said that he feels that the crisis is ‘man-made’. Jain held a high level meeting with the officials of the power department and power distribution companies and discussed the issue and its possible solution.