Coal shortage hits power output

WARANGAL: With an acute shortage of coal, blackouts are looming over every region as power supply has been severely hit in the state. Coal stocks at the Kakatiya Thermal Power Plants (KTPP) are nearing critical shortage. If the strike continues, power output at KTPP will soon come to a temporary halt.Meanwhile, 20,000 metric tonnes of coal stored for the last 20 days at the plant has been used completely. About 3,000 to 4,000 MT of coal is used for power generation. The shortage of coal has also brought down the power output.While the total output of KTPP stands at 500 MW, it has now plummeted to 230 MW.To overcome the power shortage, KTPP officials have asked Genco to make alternative arrangements to tackle the power crisis.“Genco officials will deal with the supply of coal,” said N Mahabaleswar Rao, KTPP chief engineer. Officials have made arrangements to transport coal from Western Coal Fields in Maharashtra, said KTPP officials.Coal is being transported from Western Coal Fields to Uppal Railway station in Karimnagar through goods train. From there, trucks transport the stocks to KTPP. But, transportation of coal has become a herculean task for officials.Fearing that they will have to face the wrath of T activists, they are transporting coal with heavy police bandobust.On Monday morning, a truck transporting coal was obstructed by Telangana activisits near Chelvuru village. But police intervened and disbursed the crowd. KTPP officials said, if coal stocks are supplied regularly, there would not be any disruption in output. However, police have taken transportation of coal as a serious issue and are ensuring truckers do not face any hassles during the process.