Title - Badal calls for Munda's help over coal supplies

Apprehending a critical power situation due to stoppage of coal supply to Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday called for intervention by his Jharkhand counterpart Arjun Munda to resolve the deadlock caused by the ongoing political agitation there.In a letter to Mr. Munda, Mr. Badal asked him to pave the way for smooth and uninterrupted supply of coal to Punjab which had been halted due to the agitation. According to an official release here, he wrote that the shortage of coal would impact the power scenario as the bulk of Punjab capacity was drawn from thermal generation.The release said the Pachwara (Central) coal block in Pakkur district allotted in 2002 to the Punjab State Electricity Board (which is now Punjab State Power Corporation Limited-PSPCL) was developed and operated by Panem Coal Mines, a joint venture company of the PSEB and EMTA Coal Limited. This captive coal block met a substantial part of coal requirements of the thermal power stations in Punjab.The supplies have been disrupted since November 16 as former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi and his supporters have launched a sit-in near the mine, blocking the approach road, which had completely disrupted transportation to the railway siding at Pakkur. Since November 20, another dharna at the Pakkur railway siding had disrupted dispatch of coal as well.

Mr. Badal said since the approach road to the mines was blocked, diesel could not be transported, bringing the mining operations to a standstill. M/s Panem had informed that the people affected by the project were satisfied with the rehabilitation package, he said, adding that it appeared Mr.

Marandi had been misinformed as the rehabilitation package worked out by the company had been approved by the State and Central governments.