RAICHUR: The rains that lashed north Karnataka region affected the power generation in Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) as well. Out of the seven power generating units of RTPS, 3, 4 and 5 units are functioning, while the other units suspended operations due to wet coal problem.
Though units 1 and 6 are ready to generate power, wet coal is a big problem,, sources say.
Incessant rains in the last few days have made the coal stock damp.
The wet coal cannot be pushed by the dozers as the dozers have been sinking due to the excess moisture in the coal.
"We are ready to generate more power, but wet coal is a problem," said HN Narayanaprasad, Executive Director of RTPS.Though there are huge yards to dump the coal that arrives from the suppliers like Western Coal Fields, Mahanadi Coal Fields and Singereni Collieries, but there is no roof to protect the coal from rain. The heavy rains have turned the coal into slur, sources said.
"There was wet coal problem in the previous years also. But, during the rainy season, the hydel power projects were generating sufficient power and hence the attention was not on the RTPS. But this time, the generation in hydel projects is low," Narayanprasad said.
Each unit needs 3,000 MT coal every day. The coal from the suppliers is also wet as the train wagons carrying coal have no roof.
"The RTPS authorities face fire problem in coal yards during summer. Manyatime, hundreds of tonnes of coal is burnt due to the heat in summer. There was a dispute between KPCL authorities and the RTPS engineers over the use of washed coal," experts say.