12 states face power crisis

Depleting coal inventories at thermal power plants amidst soaring mercury levels could result in an energy crisis in at least 12 states, warned engineers of state- owned units.

“The demand for coal had increased by 9 per cent compared with last year and only eight days’ coal was left in thermal power stations in 12 states of the country,” the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) chairman Shailendra Dubey said.

“The coal crisis is being witnessed in 12 states once again after October 2021,” he said, adding that in the first fortnight of April 2022, domestic power demand hit a 38-year high for the month. While there was 1.1 per cent power shortage in October 2021, this shortfall shot up to 1.4 per cent in April 2022.