Raichur: Shobha to Tackle Coal Shortage, Mafia Role in Coal Supply
Daijiworld Media Network – Raichur (SP)
Raichur, Nov 11: State energy minister, Shobha Karandlaje, noted that a judicial inquiry committee headed by retired judge of the state High Court, Justice Mohan Kumar, has been looking into the aspect of involvement of coal mafia in the supply of coal to thermal power plants in the state.
She was speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday November 10 after visiting Raichur Thermal Power Plant here. “The committee has been given time till December 31 to submit its report. There is a suspicion that mafia is involved with the supply of washed coal to Raichur Thermal Plant and huge amount has been misappropriated. If the report proves the role of the mafia, we will review the necessity to get washed coal to RTPS. As the issue of purchase of transformers has also been given additionally to the said committee, we cannot deny the possibility of giving further extension to it, she said
Minister said, In the past, it was thought that thorough renovation of the first and second units of RTPS is necessary, as they are old. However, experts have now opined that renovation is not needed now. Hence, we will now take steps to improve efficiency of all the units here,” she added.
She also said that she would be visiting New Delhi on November 15 to impress upon the union government the need to augment coal supply to the state, as new thermal power projects in the state are coal-starved. She noted that several proposed projects that were envisaged, have been hit because of the fact that there is no guarantee about coal and gas supply. “Unless these issues are sorted out, the environment and forests department will not give clearance to new projects,” she explained. She said that the government’s proposed thermal power projects in Chattisgarh, Yadlapur and Jevargi are awaiting a concrete plan for supply of coal. At the same time, gas connection to the proposed gas-based power generation plants in Tadadi and Bidadi have not yet been established. As regards Udupi Power Corporation Ltd, the second unit is ready for commissioning, but we are awaiting clearance from the union environment and forests ministry, as 30 kms of power supply line of this unit will pass through the Western Ghats, she explained.
She hoped that the eighth unit of RTPS will begin commercial production on January 26, 2011, as planned. She stated that the vibration problem found in the first unit of Bellary thermal power plant has been solved, and that it will start power generation within two days. “By February next, the second unit of Bellary thermal power plant will start generating power,” she added. She said the government is planning to enter into contract for coal supply from Indonesia to meet the shortfall in coal supply faced by the thermal power units of the state.