ROPAR: The generation at Ropar Thermal Plant inPunjab was reduced for the first time in history due to coal shortage owing to delay in supply of coal by Railways.

According to sources instead of closing of units the authorities have decided to bring down the generation  to 170 MW on each unit instead of normal 210 MW during night time to cope with the emergency situation.

The retrievable coal stock at Ropar thermal plant is just 10538 metric tones and is just sufficient for half day. The daily coal consumption for running all the six units is more than 20000 metric tones.

Today 4 racks of coal were received and the coal is being directly fed to crushers from the wagons to keep the units running. Tomorrow there is a strike call by different employees unions of PSEB and the strike may make the situation more serious and the generation at the plant may be effected.

It may be added that on papers the additional approximately 900000 metric tones of coal quantity exists but the official sources say that this coal can not be retrieved. A senior official said that there must be an enquiry in to the whole episode where the coal had disappeared.