No coal shortage in India, Pralhad Joshi tells Lok Sabha
Amid a number of letters written to PMO and warnings by the top mineral body about demand-supply mismatch, the Centre Wednesday said there is no shortage of coal in the country.
Due to increased demand of power, less power generation by imported coal-based power plants and some interruption in the supply of coal due to heavy rains, the coal stock at the power plants depleted to 7.2 MT as on October 8, 2021.
Subsequently, with increased coal supplies, the coal stock has started increasing and has now reached 26.5 MT as on March 9 this year with respect to the plants based on domestic coal. In addition, coal stock at Coal India Limited (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) pithead as on March 13 is 47.95 MT and 4.49MT respectively.
