Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday warned if uninterrupted supply of coal was not ensured for the State it could lead to food crisis as paddy plantation will be affected.
Sukhbir met Union Railway Minister DV Sadananda Gowda in New Delhi to seek regular supply of coal for Punjab as enough coal was not being transported to the State through rail wagons. He said that Punjab should get uninterrupted coal supply from enhanced coal allocation quota for the State so that adequate power could be generated in thermal plants for electricity supply to the farming sector. With the monsoon rains not hitting Punjab sufficiently, farmers have to depend for irrigation on tube-wells.
Sukhbir urged the Union Minister to ensure smooth and uninterrupted transplantation of paddy in the State. Badal, accompanied by senior power department officials, told the Railway Minister that power generation was suffering in Punjab as enough coal was not being transported to the State by the Railways.Punjab is a major producer of paddy and the entire transplantation operation could only be sustained by providing uninterrupted power supply to peasantry."Halted coal supply would not only hit the paddy season but also lead to a food crisis situation," said Sukhbir.
Green revolution state Punjab contributes over 50 per cent of the food grain to the national kitty though it has just 1.54 per cent of the country's geographical area "Next 15 days are very critical for the State in view of the ongoing paddy season and late monsoon," pointed Sukhbir, while demanding that the legitimate coal share of Punjab should also be made available to it without any cuts."The State is also in need of additional coal linkage for lehra and Bathinda Thermal Plants and the Railways should ensure mandatory coal supply besides accelerating the coal transportation from mines to rail head," he added.
Responding, Gowda issued an on-the-spot directive for regular coal supply through railway rakes to Punjab besides ensuring best possible support and cooperation to Punjab from the Ministry.The Minister also asked DP Pande, Member Traffic, to resolve the issues as early as possible so that farmers do not suffer during the ongoing paddy season.