Nagpur: India is currently staring at another crisis in the country—the coal shortage. Several states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Delhi have complained about the shortage of coal in the states.
According to a report, the shortage of fossil fuel has led to closure of 13 units at seven thermal plants in Maharashtra which are run by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited. As per another report, there is a shortage of 3,300 megawatts in the state.
Shockingly, on Sunday alone, there was a demand of 18,000 megawatts in Mumbai alone.
However, MSEDCL managing director Vijay Singhal said that the power crisis is a country-wide problem, but the firm is trying to tackle it without any power cuts. While speaking to one of the media platforms, Singhal said “We have a thermal generation of around 14,000 megawatts and due to the shortfall, we have to purchase electricity from the power exchange at exorbitant costs which is as high as Rs 20 per unit.”
Maharashtra’s energy department has reportedly started looking out for other power resources like hydroelectricity so that there are no power cuts. The department has also urged the residents to use electricity carefully, especially during the peak hours of the day.
Coal generates 70 per cent of India’s electricity. The Centre claims that while the country was reviving its economy after the second wave of Covid-19, there was an unprecedented rise in the consumption of electricity across various states. The central government also rubbished reports stating there was a shortage of coal.
