Telangana IT & Industries minister Mr K T Rama Rao lashed out at the Centre for its decision to import coal. It would only burden the common man and result in increased power tariff.
He said the centre has decided to import 76 million tonnes of coal reportedly to help power plants in the country. Imported coal costs more than domestic coal. Domestic coal costs around Rs 4,000 per tonne while imported coal costs about Rs 20,000 or more. “The imported coal will cost 10 times more,” he pointed out.
It will affect the consumers as it results in an increase in tariff of power by 50 to 80 paise per unit across the country.
The Central government is arguing that there is short of coal in power generation companies in the country. It has asked them to stock that is enough for a month.
Lack of planning on the part of Centre led to the crisis. So when the power tariff goes up next, people should ask Mr Modi who is leading Non-Performing Asset (NDA government), he said sarcastically.
The country has coal reserves that would last for 100 years. The Centre has admitted that the gap between the demand and supply of coal in the country has been reduced to a mere 3.66 percent from 2012-2022.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao