As India reels under power cuts, Bengal remains immune from outages
Kolkata: At a time when a large number of states in the country are facing the ordeal of incessant power cuts, Bengal has hardly suffered any major power outages, causing huge relief amidst the scorching summer.
"There has been a record increase in coal production in the last three years in the state due to the farsightedness of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Coal India has failed to supply adequate coal but there has been no major power cut in any part of the state," a senior official of the state Power department said.
As many as 16 states in the country have been bearing the brunt of scanty coal supply from Coal India which includes BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.
The state requires 60000 metric tonnes of coal for daily power production and produces 55000 metric tonnes. The state's coal procurement from Borjora, Panchwara and Gangaramchowk since 2019 has contributed to good coal extraction with the state moving towards self-reliance in coal production, cutting down dependence on Coal India.
"If everything goes according to plan, then within the next few years the state will be self-sufficient in coal production," the official added.
In the financial year 2020-21, the state produced 6.25 million metric tonne of coal which went up to 11.56 million metric tonne in 2021-22 fiscal. The department expects it to reach 19 million metric tonne in 2022-23.
According to sources, Coal India in 2021-22 had supplied 8 million metric tonne for Bengal and in this ongoing fiscal, no coal has been supplied as of now.
The state (excluding CESC areas) has a demand of 5000 megawatt among which 4200 is being produced within the state. The rest is being procured through the national power grid.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday had said: "I came to know about the power crisis in Delhi when I visited there a few days ago. There are 4 to 5 hours of power cut daily on average. 260 local trains have been cancelled. The Shiromani Express that I had started also figures in that list of cancelled trains."
