Ref No.:-DVC/OF/CC/-056 Date: 7th Jan, 2010
To
The Hon’ble Chief Minister,
Govt. of West Bengal,
Office of the Chief Minister,
Writers Building,
Kolkata-700001
Sub: Rampant coal theft from Rail rack meant for
DVC, MTPS, Bankura (WB).
Hon’ble Sir,
You are well aware that Damodar Valley Corporation, the first multipurpose River Valley Project of independent India is serving the nation since last about 62 years by operating its activities in the state of West Bengal and Jharkhand. Out of our multifarious activities, we also generate power and supplying it to the Railways, Steel and Coal sectors besides feeding WBSEDCL and JSEB along with many other industrial consumers.
Presently, DVC is generating power with an installed capacity of around 3000 MW and on other hand Govt. of India has entrusted DVC to add 5000 MW power generating capacity during the 11th Five Year Plan. On this line heavy construction work is going on in both of its participating state of West Bengal and Jharkhand viz. in the state of West Bengal construction work is on at MTPS, Bankura for-1000 MW, DSTPS, Andal for-1000 MW, RTPS, Raghunathpur for-1200 MW and in the state of Jharkhand construction work is on at KTPP, Koderma for-1000 MW, CTPS, Chandrapura for-500 MW and BTPS, Bokaro for -500 MW.
At such a crucial juncture, you may kindly agree that DVC is duty bound to maintain the PLF & power generation to its highest possible level, but unfortunately due to rampant coal theft from the Railway racks meant for delivering coal at DVC, MTPS, Bankura, we are facing serious problems at our biggest Thermal Power Station at Mejia, Bankura, which is the second biggest power plant after NTPC’s Farakka in the state of West Bengal.
The pity condition of our Mejia Thermal Power Station, may be assessed in light of the fact that together, the 6 operational units produces 1340 MW power but the 4 (four) units of MTPS has been shut down since last 5th Jan, 2010 (Tuesday) due to continued massive pilferage of coal since last several months from the Railway racks between Raniganj and MTPS. Generation of power at MTPS has fallen abruptly as only 2 units i.e. unit # 2 & 6 is generating power to the extent of around 450 MW to 500 MW. This has happened only due to the rampant coal theft from the Rail racks and consequential huge shortage of coal at MTPS.
This worth to be mentioned here that Coal India is supplying on an average 3 to 4 Rail racks coal (approx. 12000 to 14000 ton coal) everyday to MTPS, however, the huge quantity of coal fails to reach the said Power station because miscreants have been looting coal everyday in between Raniganj Rly. Station to Mejia Thermal Power Station.
As a matter of fact, local coal mafias force the Goods train to stop in between its way before reaching to DVC, MTPS and take away the huge quantity of coal from the train. In this course it has been reportedly gathered that on 3rd Dec, 2009 (Sunday) itself, around 1700 tonnes of coal were stolen from the racks coming to DVC, MTPS and approx. 4700 MT of coal has been looted during the last fortnight in between Raniganj & MTPS. Maximum coal is pilfered from the racks between Egara and Ballavpur in Raniganj. Around 20 KM stretch between Raniganj and MTPS is not being properly guarded and therefore rampant coal theft is going on. Due to this reason, MTPS is not getting the required quantity of coal and such inadequate receipt of coal has created severe constraints before the authorities of Mejia Thermal Power Station in maintaining the capable level of power generation.
In this course, repeated complaints and FIR have been submitted / lodged by the DVC officials with the concerned authorities at Raniganj and Gangajal Ghat, Mejia / Durlavpur. As at least 45 nos of coal theft cases have been lodged at different nearby Police stations only in between the period of 14th July, 2008 to 7th Jan, 2010, but problem of coal theft has not yet been solved. Moreover, on 7th Oct, 2009, officials of DVC management had in person appraised about such rampant coal theft to Mr. Ardhendu Sen, IAS, Home Secretary, West Bengal in presence of the top Police brass of West Bengal but even then required action to stop such coal theft has not been taken by the concerned authorities.
In light of the prevailing law & order situation over there, this worth to be investigated by some judicious agency, whether the local administration is having connivance with the coal thieves and they are helping the Coal Mafia in looting the coal and supplying it to the nearby Sponge Iron units, mostly established within 30 KM (approx.) radius of DVC, MTPS, Bankura during the last 4 to 5 years.
In order to cope with requirement of power by our priority sectors like Railways and Coal, DVC has no other alternative than to make unscheduled power cuts / load shading due to such fall in power generation at MTPS. Repeated and long hour power cuts in the industrial belt of Asansol – Durgapur, parts of South Bengal and in part of Jharkhand is presently being regularly experienced. The prevailing power crisis in said areas may not be avoided without stalling such rampant coal theft in between the rail route of Raniganj and MTPS. To check the activities of local coal mafia and coal theft by them, the appropriate machinery should verify / examine the sources of coal supply in those Sponge Iron units around DVC, MTPS.
Sir, you are, therefore, requested to firmly arrange to do something to stop such heinous on going crime continuing uninterruptedly in between Raniganj and MTPS, otherwise it is apprehended that by coming summer there would be a “blackout” in the concerned area and around 11000 employees of this organization will have to severely suffer due to loss in running the MTPS. Obviously, it will further adversely affect the socio-economic condition and around 3,00,000 lakhs general well being around Damodar valley area, directly / indirectly dependent over DVC. Therefore, in the interest of this organization as well as in the interest of people of West Bengal and Jharkhand, we seek your judicious intervention to immediately stall such rampant coal theft from the Rail racks meant for DVC, MTPS.
With regards.
Yours faithfully
(S.K.Singh)
General Secretary
Copy to:
1. The Hon’ble Union Minister of Power, Shram Shakti Bhawan, New Delhi.
2. Hon’ble Shri Basudeb Acharia, MP, 188, North Avenue, New Delhi.
3. The Hon’ble Minister of Power, West Bengal, Kolkata.
4. The Hon’ble Minister of Power, Jharkhand, Ranchi.
5. The Secretary (Home), Govt. of West Bengal, Kolkata.
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