The Hindu Business Line : Coal loading declines in July

Judged by the number of wagons (in terms of four-wheelers) used for loading, there has been a drop in coal imports in July compared to the preceding month June, and July last year.

According to railway sources, a total of 3,071 wagons were deployed for loading imported coal in various ports in July as compared to 3,607 in June, and 3,350 in July 2005 . The situation, the sources feel, may not be very different in August also.

Portwise break-up

Portwise break-ups show that in July, Paradip handled 609 wagons, Vizag 1,034 and Haldia 717 while several west coast ports together handled 711 (395 transported by South Western Railway and 316 by Western Railway). The corresponding figures for June were: Paradip 641, Vizag 1,092 and Haldia 847 and the west coast ports together 1,027 (436 by South Western Railway, 499 by Western Railway and 92 by Central Railway) and for July last year were: Paradip 697, Vizag 1,060, Haldia 733 and the west coast ports together 860 (292 by South Western Railway, 293 by Western Railway and 275 by Central Railway).

The domestic movement of coal by rail was unsatisfactory in July in respect of mines of Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) and Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL). Thus the number of wagons loaded in Ranigunge mines under ECL was 1,165 in July as compared to 1,425 in June, and 1,247 in July 2005. The corresponding figures for CCL mines were: Karanpura mines 2,562, 2,496 and 2,683, Dhori mines 281, 288 and 386 and Adra mines 243, 264 and 276 respectively. The Jharia mines under Bharat Coking Coal Ltd presented a better picture. The loading in July at 1,269 wagons was better than that in the same month last year at 1,039 though compared to June 2006 (1,386), there has been a drop.

The drop in loading of coal, both imported and domestically produced, was attributed to inclement weather, particularly heavy rains in wide areas of eastern region.

Also, strained industrial relations situation, equipment breakdown, agitation by local villagers, overflowing of the Sathi river were believed to have hit loading in CCL mines.

Interestingly, total loading of 20,878 wagons of coal in Coal India Ltd (CIL) mines in July was less than that (21,590 wagons) in June but more than that (18,438 wagons) in July 2005. This was presumably because the loading at South East Central Ltd's mines during the period at 4,514 wagons was slightly less than 4,550 in June this year but much higher than 3,666 wagons in July last year. Similarly, loading at Mahanadi Coalfields mines at 5,830 wagons in July was higher than 5,623 in June, and 4,479 in July last year. The corresponding figures for Singrauli mines under Northern Coalfields Ltd were: 1,242, 1,348 and 996 and for Singareni mines were: 2,151, 2,168 and 1,790 respectively. The corresponding figures for non-CIL mines were 10,916 wagons in July, 11,900 in June, and 10,642 wagons in July 2005.

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