A look at states staring at power blackout, due to acute coal shortages

New Delhi: India is facing a severe coal shortage. It has started impacting power generation in many states including Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu. After China, India is the largest consumer of coal in the world. However, the country is on the verge of facing further outages as the coal shortage crisis is in an adverse stage.

Currently, some states in the country are already witnessing power cuts, while others are expected to in the coming days.

States that are at high risk of blackout due to coal shortage crisis :

1. Punjab :

Punjab is experiencing a power cut of 3-4 hours across the state on Saturday. Reportedly, five power plants have been shut. Two units each at Talwandi Sabo power plant, Ropar plant, and one at the Lehra Mohabbat plant have been shut, stated officials of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

Units at Lehra Mohabbat and Talwandi Sabo have been shut forcefully owing to coal shortage while the one at Ropar has been shut due to technical glitches. This has resulted in a power shortage of 1,000 MW.

Since the paddy is being harvested now, there is low demand in power supply in the agricultural sector. The state government needs 8,500 MW as of now.

2. Delhi :

A shortage of power supply may also occur in the national capital. Delhi’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter saying, “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 Hon’ble PM seeking his personal intervention.”

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 Hon’ble PM seeking his personal intervention. pic.twitter.com/v6Xm5aCUbm

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 9, 2021

3. Rajasthan:

The state has started facing power outages given the announcement made by the government on Friday that scheduled power cuts for an hour will be incorporated across the state to curb the coal shortage in the country. Many utilities have been pushed to risk owing to the shortage.

The government stated that in major 10 cities which are home to millions of people will be facing scheduled power cuts officially.

4. Tamil Nadu:

Power cuts will be implemented in parts of Chennai to carry out maintenance work in the city, stated the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) on Friday. Reportedly, parts of Chennai faced blackout from 9 am to 4 pm. Major affected places include Sholinganallur, Guindy, Sholinganallur, Injambakkam, Annasalai, Ambattur, Redhills, Perambur, and Manali.

5. Jharkhand, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh:

Reportedly Jharkhand and Bihar are some of the worst states to face coal shortage. Besides, in Andhra Pradesh, unscheduled power cuts were making it difficult for the farmers to water the crops as electricity is needed to power irrigation pumps.

“More water is required in the last stage of harvesting and if it is denied, fields would dry up and farmers stand to lose,” stated Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in a letter to Narendra Modi.