Raj to buy power from Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd

Jaipur: The coal crisis is again here to haunt the Rajasthan Discoms. Due to a lack of mining from the PEKB mine located in Chhattisgarh the required coal is not sourced. As mining is not happening from the allotted mine due to local agitation. In such a situation, the crisis deepened due to the supply of 9-rank coal every day. Sighting the power fear, Rajasthan discom is now on active mode. Team Energy has started the planning under the leadership of Discom Chairman Bhaskar A Sawant, as the demand for electricity will increase due to start of the Rabi season in October. Under this, 380 MW power will be again taken from Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd. It has been decided to buy this contracted power at the rate fixed by the Centre.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Bhanwar Singh Bhati will meet union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi today. Principal Energy Secretary Bhaskar A Sawant and Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited CMD RK Sharma will also be present. They will demand intervention from Centre to start mining from PEKB mine and discuss ways to end the coal crisis. Although the Centre has allocated coal through bridge linkage, transportation of coal from Orissa to Rajasthan is still a big challenge. Additional arrangements are being made to provide adequate power to farmers in rabi crop season. Nearly 50% of supply will be allocated under coal bridge linkage system. as the coal will be sourced from ‘Mahanadi Coal Field Limited’ (Orissa) problem of transportation may arise. Dept of Energy decided to have waterways along with the road.