Dismissing the reports about coal shortage and discrimination in rake allotment for thermal power plants as 'misleading', the Railway Ministry has clarified that it has a road map in place for supplying wagons to long distance power generation units.

“Some media reports have raised concerns that power generation stations located far from mines are suffering due to discrimination in allotment of rakes. These reports have claimed that the power plant operated by Rattan India Power Ltd in Maharashtra has also been shut down due to coal shortage resulting from insufficient rake allotment by the south east central zone of the railways (SECR)," the railways said in a statement.

Dismissing these misleading media reports, the railways has stated that in South East central railways, there are a large number of thermal power plants which are having less coal stock as per new coal stocking norms. Many of these shorter distance plants have both mechanised unloading flexibility namely ‘tippler unloading system’ which uses open wagon with side door (BOXN type) and ‘hopper unloading system’ which uses hopper wagon with bottom opening (BOBRN type).

It further said, “the unloading time of hopper rake is much less 3 — ­hours per rake therefore has better turnaround. As a result rake supply to these shorter distance plants dealing with faster circuit Hopper rake naturally improves.

“The Amravati Power plant does not have a hopper unloading system — this being the main reason for less supply of rakes."

The railways maintained that many of the long distance thermal power stations (TPS) have regulated coal supply during April-June 21-22 to save on the inventory cost. A large number of railway rakes got stabled on account of regulation of coal supply by these long distance TPS. With power demand picking up its existing stock got liquidated.

Railways said that in consultation with coal and power ministries, it already has a road map in place for supplying rakes to long distance TPS to build adequate coal stock.