In the midst of ongoing protests over the newly launched Agnipath Scheme, the state-owned power utility Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) said on June 18 that the cancellation of multiple trains is affecting coal movement for thermal units.
The arrival of rakes in Punjab has decreased from roughly 20 rakes per day to eight rakes per day as a result of Indian Railways cancelling trains due to unrest.
“The cancellation of various trains due to the ongoing protests is definitely impacting the arrival of coal at five thermal power plants within the state,” PSPCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Baldev Singh Saran said.
According to an official report, coal stock at the Goindwal thermal power plant is nearly depleted. While it is in critical condition at the Talwandi Sabo thermal power plant. Which has fewer than four days’ worth of stock.
Though the circumstances at the Lehra and Rupnagar plants are slightly better. With 16 and 17 days of coal remaining, respectively. In addition, the Rajpura thermal plant has enough coal to last for 23 days.
Already a lack
Prior to the protest, the state’s thermal power facilities were already suffering from scarcity. From Coal India Limited and a lack of rakes from the Railways.
“The coal which was arriving in the state was barely enough to sustain. The day-to-day operations of the thermal plants. And any further reduction in coal arrivals can create problems for Punjab”. A senior official of the PSPCL said