Coal India's dues from power sector crosses Rs 18,000 crore

Kolkata: Outstanding dues payable by the power firms to Coal India rose Rs 4,250.43 crore during April and May to Rs 18,624.39 crore, official data showed.

The company had continued supplies to defaulting state firms as a relief measure during the lockdown. It also gave other concessions to customers.

“There is no increase in dues from non-regulated sector consumers and private enterprises,” a company spokesman said. “The increase in dues is because of less receipt of payments from state gencos, NTPC and SAIL due to subdued demand scenario and liquidity crunch, caused primarily due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns.”

However, the situation is expected to improve.

“It is expected that the benefits of easing of lockdown and relief package given to power sector will percolate from the discoms to the power generators and from the generators to the supplying coal companies,” the spokesman said.