New Delhi, April 27 (Agency) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that India is in the middle of a severe power crisis and he had warned the government against the lack of coal stocks. “India is in the midst of a severe power crisis. In most states, common people are being forced to bear 8-hour power cuts. I had warned the Modi govt that lack of coal stocks will spell torment for the country as power demand peaks,” the Congress leader said in a post on Facebook.
“Instead of addressing the issue, the government issued a denial. Truth speaks for itself..,” he said. 106 of 165 coal plants have reached a critical stage with respect to coal stocks – less than 25 percent stock left. We have only 21.55 million tonnes of coal in stock,” he said. “The total required stock is 66.32 million tonnes.” The Congress leader added that states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and others are struggling to meet surging power demand. “Some states are even being forced to ‘import’ coal. Remember Covid, when the government abdicated it’s responsibility towards India?
Various states were forced to become ‘Atma Nirbhar’, and had to explore the option of importing oxygen cylinders. The same thing is happening with coal too,” he said. “Unemployment, inflation, business closures are already breaking the backbone of our economy. This critical situation is the sole handiwork of an arrogant and incompetent Modi government,” he added. Power shortage is being reported from several states as heat soars. As per reports, coal stocks at more than 100 thermal power plants in India have fallen below 25 percent of the required stock and in over 50 thermal plants it has fallen below the 10 percent mark.