Even after operation of the exclusive Kaniha Opencast Coal Mine at a stone-throw distance on May 2 this year, the 3,000-MW NTPC, Kaniha Thermal Power Plant has shut down its two units, 500-MW each, due to shortage of coal, resulting in power crisis in many southern and eastern States including Odisha.
Odisha and the southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka are badly affected for thus.
The coal scarcity also forced the NTPC to operate its other four units partially, as a result of which the total generation of 3,000 MW per day came down to 1,900 MW from the plant.
There was a hue and cry in the consumer States which blamed both the Coal and Power Ministries for lack of proper coordination and responsibility.
MCl CMD AK Sahay said, “We have opened an exclusive coalmine for NTPC, Kaniha and we have got sufficient coal stock in our mines at Talcher. The power companies must come forward to lift their required coal from our end.”
On the other hand, NTPC, Kaniha Regional Executive Director Malvinder Singh Swain, while admitting that various consumer States are hit by the shutdown of two units, said there was no sufficient coal in the wharf wall. “We are arranging a meeting with the MCl CMD to resolve this issue,” he added.
NTPCC, Kaniha is the second largest power plant in India. It received the first rake of coal from the Kaniha mines on May 2. loading of coal from the Kaniha wharf wall onto the NTPC rake was started by the MCl in the presence of senior officials of NTPC and MCl. The first loaded coal rake was flagged off by NTPC Executive Director VB Fadnavis and MCl General Manager AK Sinha.
On the first day, three coal rakes brought 4,000 tonnes of coal to NTPC Talcher-Kaniha. With this new coal linkage from the Kaniha mines, it was expected that power generation in the Talcher Super Thermal Power Station would increase and mitigate the issue of short supply of coal faced by the power station.
But contrary to the operation of a new coalmine, just after 10 days again the issue of coal shortage seriously affected the mega power plant of the country.