New Delhi: The coal crisis in the country has triggered a power struggle, literally, between two countries ruled by Congress.
Rajasthan, who suffered a widespread blackout because of the shortage of fuel in its power plant in the past few months, has knocked down the central doors, by saying the Chhattisgarh government stopped plans to start two coal blocks and increased production from two other mines.
After the request repeatedly to the Chattisgarh forest department for permission to go unconditionally, Rajasthan, Secretary of Secretary of Subodh Agarwal has been seeking coal intervention and secretary of Anil Jain and Alok Kumar.
In separate letters to Jain and Kumar, Agarwal has emphasized the need for a central to weigh the Chattisgarh government to take the initial actions needed to start production from the mine to ensure Rajasthan energy security.
Agarwal Letter followed Mission Minister of Ashok Gehlot for Chhattisgarh partners and colleagues of the Bhupesh Baghel Party in October last year.
“I want to tell you that Rajasthan has invested more than Rs 40,000 Crore at the thermal power station installed in the state.
This coal block meets the majority of coal requirements from the current and upcoming Rrvunl (GCO) power station and are very important to ensure material security Burn (Rajasthan) …
“said Gehlot to Baghel in a letter in October last year.
The block in question is, Parsa, Parsa East, Kanta Bashan, and Kante’s extension in the Sarguja Chattisgarh district.
Three of these blocks were allocated in 2015 to Rajasthan to trigger the 4,340 MW generation capacity.
Located in the Hasdeo Arand forest area, blocks and mines have oversee protests by tribes which in October opposed mining activities in the area.
Agarwal said the Chattisgarh Department of Forest has not provided permissions needed to start the Parsa block – with an estimated production capacity of 5 million tons per year – even after the Union and Ministry of Forest environment according to the opening of the stage-II forest on October 21.
For Eastern and Tanta Tima Mines, Agarwal said the state administration has not made the amendments needed in the forest clearing to submit more than 1,136 hectares of land approved by the Ministry of Green Union.
Additional land is estimated to increase production from two mines by 40% to 21 million tons a year from 15 million tons.
For the Kante extension block with an estimate of nine million tons of production per year, Agarwal said the center needs to get the Sarjuguda District Judge to hold public hearings needed for permission.
Rajasthan witnessed blackouts in September and October due to lack of coal.
The distribution utility is forced to increase power rates with 33 Paisa per unit for the next three months as the cost of additional coal sources from the market and the power of the exchange rise due to a surge in production and production decline.
Rajasthan already has one of the most expensive electricity rates in the country and the state faces the challenge of maintaining its affordable power for the pariwaya sector.
Rajasthan Rajya Power Plant utility Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (Rrvunl) found it difficult to meet the peak demand of 14,000 MW countries due to inadequate coal supply from India Coal Ltd., state officials said in anonymous conditions.