New Delhi:
The skirmish between the Coal Ministry and state-run National Thermal Power Corporation took a new twist today, with the ministry rebutting claims that there is a shortfall of coal supply at plants operated by NTPC.
NTPC, which is the main supplier of coal-based power in India, had set off alarm bells in a letter to the Power Ministry on July 14, claiming that supplies from Coal India (the monopoly coal supplier) had run short to critical levels.
But Coal Ministry sources told NDTV that in five of the six plants where NTPC claimed there is a shortage of coal, the supply is more than 100% in the first two weeks of July.
The supply to NTPC's Singhrauli power plant is 104 per cent, Rihand 102 per cent, Vindyachal 100 per cent, Ramagundam 118 per cent and Simhadri 102 per cent, sources said.
Sources also said only the Sipat power plant has received 85 per cent of the total coal supply because of a dispute over the renegotiation of contracts with transporters.
Speculating on the reasons for shortfall, sources said NTPC could be running its plants beyond normal capacity because of the extended summer.
NTPC was not immediately available for comment.