Yamunanagar: The alleged poor quality of Chinese equipment coupled with low-grade workmanship at thermal plants built by Reliance Infra has been acknowledged by Haryana Generation Power Corporation Limited (HPGCL). Information obtained under the RT Act reveals that the Chief Engineer of the Khedar thermal plant apprised the Additional Chief Secretary (Power) in July about instances of bursting and damaging of valves and other equipment due to poor quality of material used in the thermal units. The minutes of a meeting reveal that difficulties were being faced by engineers in reading and understanding the drawings of boilers, turbines and auxiliaries supplied by Reliance Infra which are written in the Chinese language. HPGCL has decided to impart training to some of its engineers at Yamunanagar in the Chinese language so that work is not hampered. The extra consumption of coal at the Khedar plant has also become a cause of concern for the HPGCL. As per the design, six coal mills are required for full load operation of the unit. But seven coal mills are being used, resulting in excess coal consumption. Thus, the dwindling coal stock at the Khedar plant has become a cause for worry for HPGCL and may effect generation. The minutes of the meeting, reveal that there was 60,000 tonnes of imported coal at Khedar on July 18 and with the receipt of additional coal from the 11th and 12th vessels, imported coal was expected to last till October. But as on date, there is no imported coal left at the plant, the latest CEA report stated. The daily coal requirement for the Khedar plant is 15,400 tonnes and for the Panipat plant 17,700 tonnes. As per the CEA report, the coal stocks at Khedar and Panipat are sufficient for 12 and 11 days, respectively. The Jhajjar plant has six days of coal stock left and comes under the critical category. The Panipat plant receives 200 rakes a month on an average. The HPGCL is also facing a problem of spare parts for coal mills and proper blending of coal to optimise generation at the plant. The Additional Chief Secretary (Power) had asked the HPGCL authorities to identify the items and equipment which could be developed within the country. Coal shortage at Khedar plant * The Khedar thermal plant is practically running on hand to mouth coal stock and is dependent upon the daily receipt of coal rakes. * On paper, the stock of 180,019 tonnes at Khedar is sufficient for 10 days. * The coal consumption of the Chinese thermal units was quite high, adding to the cost of power generation and affecting the income of HPGCL.