Pune government orders probe into coal crisis

The state government has ordered a probe into the delay in the lifting of allotted coal by the state power utility that has resulted in a power crisis.

The announcement was made by state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan during his visit to Kolhapur on Friday to attend a function to induct supporters of independent MP and former NCP leader Sadashivrao Mandlik into the Congress.

On October 20, DNA carried a report ('State creates crisis to import costly coal') stating that the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MahaGenco) failed to lift its allotted quota of coal from the mines of Western Coalfields Limited this year, resulting in an acute power crisis in the state. Instead, it went ahead and placed orders to import expensive coal from Indonesia and South Africa for its thermal power plants.

Chavan declared that the state will become load-shedding free in 2012 when various power projects will commence. "The coal-related issue created the present power crisis. The coal available in the state is of low quality. An inquiry will be conducted regarding the delay in lifting the coal allotted to the state," he said.
Chavan also said the Congress and NCP will look into and consider the reasons for the defeat in the by-polls of Khadakwasla. The CM also said that the issue of sugar cane rates will be decided following discussions with different farmers' organisations.