Jharkhand agitation may hit coal supply to state’s power plants

New Delhi, November 23
Power-short Punjab may face further deficit as agitation led by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi threatens to block lifeline coal supplies to the state's power plants.

Panem Coal Mines Ltd, a joint venture of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) and EMTA Group of Companies which mines about 7 million tonnes of coal from the Pachwara mines in Jharkhand for the state's power plants, has warned of supplies stopping due to the agitation.

"The situation has now become extremely critical and we are afraid if the issue is not resolved immediately, the supply of coal to the power stations of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) shall be affected very badly for days to come," company director Bikash Mukherjee wrote to the PSPCL this week.

Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) chief Babulal Marandi is on a dharna in Pakur district of Jharkhand demanding rehabilitation of people affected by the Panem Coal Mines.

"They have blocked the approach road to the mines, resulting in total disruption of transportation from mines to the railway siding at Pakur (since November 16)," Mukherjee wrote on November 21. "The movement of all required items inward and outward from the mine has come to a grinding halt."

The distance from the mines to the railway siding, which ships the coal to power plants in Punjab, is 55 km, he said. So far, the company had been managing from the buffer stock it maintains, he said.

Marandi along with his supporters has been on a dharna demanding a tripartite agreement between the Jharkhand Government, Panem Coal Mines and the Raj Mahal Pahar Bacchao Samiti to complete all welfare projects promised by the company within a given time frame.

Mukherjee said Marandi has not responded to efforts made for a dialogue to explain the company's position. He wanted Punjab Chief Minister to take up the issue with his Jharkhand counterpart so as to resolve the it immediately. — PTI

Crux of the problem

Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik chief Babulal Marandi is on a dharna in Pakur district of Jharkhand
He is demanding rehabilitation of those affected by Panem Coal Mines
His supporters have blocked the approach road to the mines
This has led to a complete disruption of transportation of coal from the mines to the railway siding at Pakur
Company director wants Punjab Chief Minister to take up the matter with his Jharkhand counterpart