Under pressure to keep YTPS running, officials transport coal on incomplete rly line

Authorities under pressure to have substantial stock of coal to keep the Yermarus Thermal Power Station (YTPS) running seem to have found innovative solutions.  

The new railway line from the Singareni coal mines in Telangana to YTPS has been laid only up to half the distance. But the authorities have already put the facility to use.

The consignment of coal, 4,055 tonnes filled in 59 wagons in all, has been transported through the incomplete rail route and it was then transported in trucks for the remainder of the distance of four km to the power station.

Workers are toiling to unload the coal from the rakes on to the lorries. T Lakshman Kabade, YTPS chief engineer, told DH, "We are incurring heavy expenses at present, to transport the coal from the Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) to YTPS. The new arrangement helps us cut costs."

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised over the unscientific manner in which the coal is being dumped on to the ground, before being loaded on to the trucks. It is said the coal may catch fire due to the heat in the atmosphere.

The place lacks water facility to douse the fire in the event of a mishap. A fire extinguisher has been stationed there just for the sake of it. The workers have not been provided safety gear while loading and unloading the coal.