To get through the state’s current load shedding crisis, the government has decided to import coal from abroad to some extent for power generation, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Friday. He also said that efforts are being made to allocate a coal mine in Chhattisgarh to the power sector in Maharashtra. In an interview with reporters, Pawar said the country’s coal supply is not working the way it should.

“Load shedding is going on in the state. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has held a meeting on this issue. I will be reviewing the power sector weekly on load shedding, and the Cabinet has given the go-ahead to check if there is any available in the country electricity,” he said. Efforts are being made to eliminate load shedding and ensure smooth power supply to the state, a senior NCP leader said.

“There is insufficient supply of coal in several states. Maharashtra also does not have enough supply, so we have decided to import coal from abroad to a certain extent. Apart from that, efforts are being made to allocate a coal mine in Malaysia. Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (Mahagenco). Energy Minister Nitin Raut is working on it,” Pawar added.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has also asked the Chhattisgarh government, which has a similar ideology, to allocate a coal mine to Maharashtra, he said. Responding to whether the BJP-led centre is indulging in vendetta politics by not supplying coal to Maharashtra, Pawar said the supply of coal to the states is not working the way it should.

“There is the issue of rail wagons. Rail wagons are needed today to transport coal, sugar, wheat, and other necessities that need to be brought to the ports. I don’t want to bring any politics into it. I don’t want to make that accusation, but the coal shortage is Facts,” the deputy chief minister said.

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Last week, Minister Nitin Raut said the state’s load shedding was the result of increased electricity demand due to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, blaming the centre for mismanaging coal supply.