MADHYA PRADESH-Staking Claim to Super Power Stations

Staking Claim to Super Power Stations N K Singh THE recent controversy between the Patherkheda coal mine and the neighbouring Satpura thermal power station, which is solely dependent upon the former for its fuel supply, has passed almost unnoticed. The state government- owned power plant complained that the mine had been unable to supply ''even the needed quantity of coal... despite urgent telegrams sent to rush supply''. The authorities of the mine, run by the Western Coalfields, a Central government concern, on the other hand claimed that the Satpura thermal station had failed to lift coal as per agreement. The Satpura autho- rities, it was alleged, had not even inated the reasons for not lifting the coal. The output of coal at Patherkheda has doubled from about 50,000 tonnes to one lakh tonnes per month during the last three years. The controversy thus seems to be an instance of poverty amidst plenty.