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Informist, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026

KOLKATA - Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy Monday said the coal shortage plaguing thermal power plants in the country is primarily on account of an increase in power demand and the hydro power segment producing less power.

The situation is, "there is no shortage of coal but power demand has increased by 12-15% and hydro power generation has fallen," Reddy said on the sidelines of an event organised by industry body ASSOCHAM. The minister said that since power production from hydro power plants has fallen, the onus to cater to increased electricity demand and its generation has fallen on thermal power plants. Hence, coal uptick in the thermal power plants has increased. 

FOCUS WEST BENGAL 

Reddy said that his government is taking up the issue of illegal coal mining with the West Bengal government and is taking proactive steps to end it fully. 

"I will be meeting the West Bengal Chief Minister (Suvendu Adhikary) to discuss steps to discuss on coal mafia and illegal mining," Reddy said, adding that illegal mining flourished in the state despite Coal India being headquartered in Kolkata and stepping up production. The West Bengal government has already initiated steps to formulate reforms which will increase revenue or royalty from mining operations. Reddy's comments reinforce the steps towards policy revision which the state government has has already undertaken. 

Reddy said that the centre was keen to promote investment in West Bengal. "Prime Minister, (Narendra) Modi has told all Cabinet ministers in a meeting to look after and facilitate investments and opportunities for West Bengal. We have lined up huge investments in the state which will help West Bengal reclaim its lost glory of being an industrialised and forward looking state," Reddy said. 

The minister said that investments worth INR 1.47 lakh crore (INR 1.47 trillion) have been lined up for West Bengal to improve the state's infrastructure and of this, INR 790 billion has already been implemented. "We all need to work together to rejuvenate industry in West Bengal," the minister said. End

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

Reported by Avishek Rakshit

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

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