MP facing shortage of 2,500 Mw

Madhya Pradesh has been facing a shortage of more than 2,500 Mw due to scarcity of coal, insufficient rainfall during this season as well as the alleged bias of the central government.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan admitted this in the state Assembly yesterday, adding that reservoirs like Indira Sagar and Omkareashwar are running dry. “We are able to generate hardly 250-300 Mw against 3,000 Mw of our hydel power capacity due to insufficient rains. I am helpless in this regard,” he told the Assembly.

He also alleged that the category of non-allotted power from the central sector had been pruned from 350 Mw to 131 Mw. “We have been given written letters by the central government despite my requests to the prime minister and the Union minister for power,” the chief minister said.

He said that the central government has slashed coal supply from the required 1.5 million tonnes to 1.2 mt. “Our Sarni thermal power station is running out of adequate coal stock that has created power shortage. Against our demands, the central government has asked us to import coal. How can we import coal when our state has sufficient coal reserves in southern-eastern belt?” he asked.

The chief minister also criticised public sector Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (Bhel), whose two power projects are yet to become operational. 

“The company (Bhel) has been given the task to set up two power stations at Birsinghpur (510 Mw) and Amarkantak (210 Mw). Both the projects are delayed by one-and-a-half years and yet it is not clear when the entity will complete the project. We have been told that these projects will be completed by June this year,” he said.

However, leader of opposition Jamuna Devi dismissed the allegations and said, “The state government had been selling power to other states. The Centre has cut the central supply to ensure power supply to other states.”