Poor Quality Coal at Thermal Plants
Probe committee’s report silent on past losses
Megha Mann/TNS

Bathinda, August 30
A four-member high-powered committee of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), formed to look into the issue of poor quality coal reaching the three thermal plants of the state, has suggested measures to monitor its quality, but is silent on the losses incurred in the past.

PSPCL seems to have swept the scandal under the carpet as no responsibility for past wrongdoings has been fixed in the times when Coalgate has hit the nation.

Since long, coal supplier Panem has been providing sub-standard coal to thermal plants. The whistle on this was blown by the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP) Lehra Mohabbat.

The thermal plant authorities conducted tests wherein the coal supplied to them was detected to be sub-standard.

The move did not go down well with the coal provider as it stopped providing coal to the plant after August 6. It was only after The Tribune reported this arm-twisting on August 13 that the coal supply was restored on August 14.

PSPCL had formed a committee comprising OSD, coal management, SK Puri; chief engineer, Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, Bathinda, HP Singh; chief engineer, GHTP, Lehra Mohabbat, and chief engineer, Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Power Plant, Ropar, K Lal.

In its report submitted to PSPCL, the committee has recommended inter-thermal plant transfers of chief chemists (in-charge of the coal-testing wing) and ensuring uniformity in testing of coal at all the three thermal plants.

Though the committee has laid emphasis on directing Panem to agree to work on joint sampling and analysis at the unloading end in thermal plants, it is silent on the recovery of huge losses incurred in the past. “The report is silent on the company’s role. How can the chemical wing alone be held responsible for the wrongdoings? A high-level probe should be marked,” said one of the chemical wing employees at the Bathinda thermal plant.

Sources at PSPCL said that coal testing conducted at Ropar plant after August 15 has thrown up some surprises. F-grade coal was detected at the plant for the first time. Of the 13 rakes of coal tested from August 27 to August 29, one was found to be of D grade, 10 of E grade and two of F grade.

in the report
No responsibility fixed
No steps suggested for recovery of past losses
There cannot be divergence in the coal analysis of the three thermal power stations during 2010-11, 2011-12 and the first quarter of 2012-13 as the source was the same - the Pachwara Central coal mine
In view of high financial stakes involved, the committee has recommended interchanging of staff dealing with coal testing from time to time
Follow joint sampling and analysis, as suggested by GHTP Lehra Mohabbat