Satyendar Jain warns of blackout in Delhi due to power shortage

Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday cautioned that there could be complete blackout in the national capital after two days if power plants supplying electricity to the national capital do not receive an immediate supply of coal.

“After two days, there will be a complete blackout in the whole of Delhi, if we do not receive more power supply from the Centre,” he told a news agency adding, “There is an acute shortage of coal in coal-fired power plants across the country, even when production plants aren’t running at full capacity. There is only one day’s stock left in the plants from which Delhi gets electricity, there is no coal at all. We have a Power Purchase Agreement where they’re giving us half of the electricity. We’ve come to point of rationing.”

This warning came after the Delhi Power Minister held a meeting with the representatives of power distribution companies (discoms) to discuss the “power crisis”.

Appealing to the Centre to transport coal to the national capital, the Delhi Power Minister said, “There is an appeal to the central government to transport coal soon using railway wagons.” In order to resolve the power crisis in Delhi,
Jain said that the government is even ready to buy expensive electricity at present.

Earlier today, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also warned that the national capital could face a power crisis. “I am personally keeping a close watch over the situation. We are trying our best to avoid it,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.