Punjab faces power cuts due to coal 'shortage' at power plants

Power utility PSPCL has restored to load shedding on all categories of consumers, including the farming sector, due to coal "shortage" at power plants. However, Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) officials said the power cuts which are in the range of 1-2 hours a day will be withdrawn as soon as coal supply to thermal plants improved.

"The power cuts in the state are temporary and these power regulatory measures will be withdrawn in the first week of the September," an official spokesman of PSPCL said. He said due to humid conditions prevailing in the state, the demand for power had shot up to 2,263 lakh unit per day against the supply of 2,200 lakhs units.

Farmers are being given six hours power supply against 8- hour supply, official said. Ropar thermal plant has 13,115 MT of coal stock while Lehra Mohabbat plant has 8,000 MT of stock which are suficent only for 4 days.

Official said that Punjab government was in constant touch with Union Coal ministry to speed up coal supply to its plants.