Govt to step up coal supply to power plants from May19 -June 30

Government has decided to augment coal supplies to centre/ state power plants and independent power producers (IPPs) from May 19 to June 30 to overcome shortage of the dry fuel and check power crisis.

The decision was taken in a joint meeting of power, coal and railways ministries on May 17, 2018. However, experts think the move may affect captive power generators in sectors like steel and cement.

Ministry of railways has asked all its zones to accord high priority to power plants from May 19-June 30.

"It has been decided that loading of coal for power houses (plants of central/state utilities and IPPs) from good sheds should be accorded high priority till June 30, 2018. These instructions will be applicable on the rake supplies made in goods sheds from May 19, 2018 onwards," it said in a letter to the zones.

The move comes in the wake of power ministry's request for granting high priority in loading of coal for power houses from goods sheds so as to facilitate higher supplies of coal to power sector, it added.

Similar directive was given to South East Central Railways by Coal India arm Mahanadi Coalfields.

Indian Captive Power Producers Association Secretary Rajiv Agarwal however termed the decision "bad" and said