No coal shortage, but Rajasthan must ensure its transportation, says secretary

JAIPUR: Union coal secretary Anil Jain has assured that there will be no shortage of coal for thermal power plants in the state. He, however, said the state government had to make arrangement for transportation of the coal.
Jain was taking a high-level meeting of the power department along with additional chief secretary (mines and energy) Subodh Agrawal at Vidyut Bhawan on Thursday.
Jain said that the higher cost of imported coal has put pressure on local coal mines due to their increased demand. He said that the coal crisis has not ended in the country, so wherever and by whatever means coal is available, it should be stored in thermal power plants so that the power generation cannot be affected due to the imminent shortage of coal. He assured that full cooperation will be given to Rajasthan by the Centre in the supply of coal.
Additional chief secretary (mines and energy) Subodh Agrawal said that in view of the requirement of advance storage of coal for at least 20 days for the thermal power plants of the state, supply should be ensured. At present, an average of seven days' stock is being stored with the state.
Agrawal informed that the state has huge reserves of lignite. He suggested bringing a concrete proposal from Neyveli Lignite to the state government so that the possibilities of power generation on a joint basis can be increased further in the State.
CMD Vidyut Utpadan Nigam RK Sharma said that clearance of 1136 hectares of the second phase of Parsa East and Kanta basin cleared expeditiously by the centre so that coal mining can be increased for thermal power plants.