Delhi may face blackout due to coal shortage
New Delhi, June 27: The National Capital Region may face a blackout as the coal reserves with the Delhi government were only for a-day-and-a-half, said Power Minister Satyendar Jain who has written to Union Power Minister R. K. Singh regarding the same.
In the letter, Jain informed the minister about the coal supply shortage to the NCR power plants -- Dadri, Jhajjar and Badarpur.
"Since June 19, the coal stock is continuously declining and has reached approximate 90,000 MT on Wednesday, which is only one and a half days requirement," Jain wrote adding that the "situation is extremely critical".
The reason he gave for the shortage is the non-availability of transportation rakes with the railways.
Jain requested Singh to "intervene personally and take up the matter with the Railways for providing rakes on priority for transportation of coal to these power plants to avoid blackout in Delhi".
While addressing the media on Wednesday, Jain said that ideally power plants should have a reserve coal stock for 15 days.
He also said that the power demand was high during this season.
It was the second time in the season that such a warning was issued. In May also, the issue had arisen as the coal reserves of the national capital had been reduced to a day.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Industry body BCIC welcomes K'taka budget, calls it growth oriented
Bengaluru (PTI): The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce on Saturday welcomed the Karnataka Budget 2026-27, recognising its balanced approach towards fostering economic growth, supporting MSMEs, and enhancing infrastructure development.
K Ravi, Senior Vice President, BCIC and Chairman, International Business Committee. appreciated the government's commitment to strengthening the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector through targeted financial incentives, skill development programs, and ease of doing business reforms.
"These measures are expected to boost manufacturing capabilities and create significant employment opportunities across the state," he said, in a statement.
According to him, the budget's focus on infrastructure, including investments in road connectivity, urban development, and industrial parks, tourism and hospitality aligns with BCIC's vision of a robust industrial ecosystem that supports sustainable growth and competitiveness.
BCIC also applauded the emphasis on IT, AI, technology and innovation, which it said will drive Karnataka's position as a leading hub for startups and digital economy initiatives.
While the budget presents ambitious welfare schemes and agricultural support, BCIC said it encourages continued dialogue between industry stakeholders and the government to ensure effective implementation and maximise impact.
BCIC further said that it remains committed to collaborating with the government to facilitate a conducive business environment that promotes investment, innovation, and inclusive growth in Karnataka.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday presented his record 17th budget with a total outlay of Rs 4,48,004 crore.
Reacting to the state budget, Karmendra Kohli, CEO, SecurEyes said it sends a strong signal on digital responsibility.
He said in a statement that the proposed social media ban for children under 16 is a timely step but its success will hinge entirely on robust digital identity verification and enforcement mechanisms, which are inherently cybersecurity challenges.
Similarly, the establishment of the Bangalore Robotics and AI Innovation Zone and AI Centers of Excellence is exciting, but every AI platform is a potential attack surface, Kohli said.
"As Karnataka accelerates its digital ambitions, cybersecurity cannot be an afterthought; it must be embedded from the ground up. We look forward to the state building on its Cybersecurity Policy 2024 with dedicated budget allocations that match the scale of its tech aspirations," he added.
