As per latest media reports, Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that the National Capital could soon face a huge power shortage due to coal crisis across the country affecting supply at power plants.
Kejriwal has written to PM Narendra Modi seeking intervention to make necessary arrangements for coal at power plants & gas to generation plants.
In a tweet, the Chief Minister said, “Delhi could face a power crisis. I am personally keeping a close watch over the situation. We are trying our best to avoid it. In the meanwhile, I wrote a letter to honorable Prime Minister seeking his personal intervention”.
On the other hand, Satyendar Jain Delhi Power Minister said that if the situation does not improve then the Capital could face a blackout after 2 days. He also said that the present situation is similar to the shortage of oxygen during the second Covid-19 wave. Jain also called a high-level meeting with officers of the power department and energy firms on Saturday.
It is important to mention that a bulk of Delhi’s power allocation is met by the NTPC plant located in Dadri & thermal power plant in Jhajjar. There are no thermal power plants in the Capital anymore. 3 plants have been shut over the past 12 years.
The Delhi CM, in his letter to PM Modi said that the city has been facing coal shortage since August. Kejriwal wrote, “I draw your attention to the prevailing coal shortage situation that is continuing since August/September for the 3rd month in a row, which has affected power generation from major central generating plants supplying power to Delhi”.
Demanding adequate coal supply from other plants to Dadri & Jhajjar power plants, along with APM gas supply to Bawana, Pragati -I & GTPS plants, he said that this was essential to maintain uninterrupted power in the Capital which caters to installations of national as well as strategic importance, alongside cold chains for vaccines.
Jain further added that since the power demand is lower than the peak demand seen in the month of June & July, thermal power plants are not working at full capacity and due to this Delhi was getting only about half of the power it has been allocated from these plants.
