May worsen power crisis Kiran Deep Tribune News Service Yamunanagar, September 11 Reeling from power shortage, the state may face a worse situation following a shortage of coal stocks at thermal plants due to the non-supply of coal from Jharkhand mines in the wake of damage caused by the Bihar floods. Coal stocks for only three days are left at the super thermal plant (1,360 MW) in Panipat and the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Plant (600 MW) in Yamunanagar. People of the state have already been facing more than 14 hours of power cuts. Sources said if the state did not get the coal supply within three days, the two thermal plants would have to be shut down. Then, the state would face an additional shortage of 1,960 MW. Ideally, any thermal plant should keep coal stocks for 21 days to ensure the smooth functioning of the plant. The Bihar floods led to a shortage of labourers to carry out mining work. Official sources said the thermal plant in Panipat needed 21,000 MT of coal to run the eight units to generate 1,360 MW every day. However, only 70,000 MT of coal stocks were left with the plant. Besides, 26,000 MT of coal was left with the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Plant, which would be sufficient for the next three days. At present, one out of the two units (300 MW) had already been shut down due to a fire at the plant on September 6. The second unit requires 8,500 MT of coal every day. Chief engineer of the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Plant Sushil Bansal has confirmed that the plant had coal for only three days. People in the state had been facing more than 12 hours of power cuts in the urban areas and 14 hours in the rural areas due to a shortage of 190 lakh units. Power consumption in the state had increased to 1,000 lakh units. However, power supply from all sources was 810 lakh units every day, the sources added.