Chennai: At a time when the Opposition is attacking the DMK government over the frequent power cuts across the State, Chief Minister M K Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, demanding his intervention to ensure the supply of 72,000 MTs coal per day at Paradip and Visakhapatnam ports as per the FSA (Fuel Supply Agreement).
‘I have been informed that though coal production is sufficient to meet summer power demand, it is not getting transported to ports due to short supply of railway rakes. This resulted in coal stocks of our generation plants dropping to critical levels,’ he said.
‘This, in turn, has resulted in the coal stocks of our state’s generation plants reaching critical levels. In the case of TANGEDCO, 22 railway rakes per day are required for moving 72,000 MTs of daily allotted coal to Paradip and Vishakhapatnam ports. However, on an average, only 14 rakes per day are currently being provided by Railways,’ he added.
Stalin approached Modi, on the same day when the principal opposition, the AIADMK raised this issue in the Assembly that people were irked over frequent power cuts.
Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji said the government was planning to buy power at a cheaper rate from private players. Dissatisfied with his response, the AIADMK walked out from the Assembly.