Maha Kumbh: Coal Ministry makes contingency plans for supply to power plants

The Coal Ministry has made contingency plans for despatch and transport of coal to thermal power plants (TPPs) in northern India to avoid any disruptions due to the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh).

Considered the world’s largest religious gathering, the 45 day-long Maha Kumbh commenced on Monday and concludes on February 26. More than 40 crore people are expected to attend the auspicious event, which is held every 12 years.

The Inter-Ministerial Coordination (IMC) has made contingency plans for despatch and transport of the critical commodity to TPPs in northern India last month.

The transportation of coal to “some up-country power plants” is likely to be disrupted, the Coal Ministry has anticipated.

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However, the IMC mechanisms at the level of the Sub-group, chaired by the Coal Ministry and the Secretary level IMC, has in regular meetings last month took stock of the situation with a detailed contingency plan to minimise the impact of any likely disruptions during this period, a senior official said.

Railways expected 1.5-2 crore people to visit Prayagraj to pray at the once-in-a-decade event. Around 1.5 crore people took a dip in the Sangam at Prayagraj on the first day of the Maha Kumbh.

Coal despatch to the Power sector rose by more than 5 per cent Y-o-Y to 76.04 mt in December 2024 (December 2023: 72.39 mt). Overall during April-December 2024, the despatch grew by 4.32 per cent Y-o-Y to 618.33 mt.

The average railway rakes per day to supply coal to the Power sector during December last year rose by 3.97 per cent Y-o-Y to 290.50. Daily average loading in November 2024 stood at 275.80.

Overall coal stocks at domestic coal based plants (around 189 gigawatts installed capacity) stood at 45.33 mt on January 13, 2024, against a daily consumption of 2.67 mt.

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