Coal loading in April-May rises 17% at 102 MT

The coal loading in the last two months registered an increase of 17.4 per cent to 101.66 million tonnes, the government said today.

The statement comes amid Delhi government recently alleging that the national capital was facing an "alarming level" of coal shortage.

"The coal loading during April-May 2018 was 101.66 MT, which is 15.5 MT (17.4 per cent) more than the coal loading achieved in the corresponding period of last year," the coal ministry said in a statement.

The loading of the raw material to steel plants, except iron ore, during April and May in the current fiscal was 3.95 MT, registering an increase of 16.3 per cent over the year-ago period.

"The cement loading during April-May 2018 was 20.40 MT which is 0.17 million tonnes (0.83 per cent) more than the cement loading achieved in the corresponding period of last year," it said.

The loading of fertilisers during April-May 2018 was 7.40 MT, which is 0.88 MT more than achieved in the corresponding period last year.

"The loading of containers during April-May 2018 was 9.60 MT which is 0.96 million tonnes (11.11 per cent) more than the container loading achieved in the corresponding period of last year.

"The balance other goods loading during April-May 2018 was 14.47 MT which is 0.73 million tonnes (5.28 per cent) more than the loading achieved in the corresponding period of last year," it added.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had this week written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to direct the Railways to provide rakes for transporting coal to power plants in Delhi-NCR, which are facing "alarming level" of coal shortage.

The national transporter, however, had said that Delhi need not worry as adequate coal is being supplied to the power plants.

In his letter to Modi, the chief minister had said with rising temperatures and increasing power demand in Delhi, coal stock position is "very alarming" and needs immediate attention and intervention.

Responding to Kejriwal's claims, the railways had said coal requirement in Dadri, Jhajhar and Badarpur power plants are being adequately met by the national transporter.