Allotment of rakes to Coal sector
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA
QUESTION NO 1414
ANSWERED ON 29.12.2017
Allotment of rakes to Coal sector
1414 Smt. Wansuk Syiem
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether preferential allotment of rakes to Coal sector by Railways has badly affected sectors like Cement, Steel and Iron Ore;
(b) whether this preferential allotment of rakes for movement of coal to power plants is to avoid power outage during winter/festive months;
(c) whether captive power producers, which are categorised under non-power category, are also feeling the impact of non-availability of rakes; and
(d) how soon the rake availability to all sectors will be restored?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
(a) to (d) : Due to spurt in demand for thermal power arising out of drop in power generation from other sources, like nuclear, hydro and wind energy during the 2nd quarter of 2017-18, there was a drop in the coal stock position with the thermal power plants. To bulid up the required coal stock, especially during festivals seasons, a conscious decision was taken by Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal and Ministry of Railways to give priority in allotment of rakes for movement of coal to power sector. As a result of this, there has been a marginal drop in the movement of rakes to non-power sector including captive power producers.
Indian Railways has registered a healthy growth in traffic of cement, steel and iron ore in the current fiscal and growth rate of 10.2%, 16.2% and 5.1% respectively have been achieved till end of November 2017. However, there was a marginal drop in supply of rakes to iron ore in the month of October 2017 and November 2017 because of higher priority in supply of rakes to coal for power sector.
The situation has improved from December 2017 onwards and supply of rakes to other consumers and coal rakes to non-power consumers has substantially improved.