The Government has initiated an innovative web portal, PRAKASH (Power Rail Koyla Availability through Supply Harmony), with the fundamental aim of enhancing coordination amidst the power, coal, and railway ministries. Developed by NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation), this portal assists in ensuring a steady supply of coal to power plants across the nation. It seamlessly integrates data from various stakeholders like the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS), and numerous coal companies. However, this portal remains inaccessible to the public.
Background: Understanding the Existing Mechanism
Previously, the review of coal supply was maintained by an inter-ministerial group comprising officials from several domains such as Power, Coal, Railways, CEA, Power Utilities, and coal companies. This ensemble met weekly to assess the coal supply situation alongside railway logistics. But, the system faced frequent discrepancies due to scattered information, verification of data from varied organizations, and timely access to data, which often led to decision-making difficulties.
The Portal Advantage: Enhanced Stakeholder Benefits
The newly introduced PRAKASH portal is expected to ease several stakeholder challenges. Institutions such as the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and Power System Operation Corporation Ltd. (POSOCO) can review the overall availability of coal at different thermal power plants through the portal. Various reports pertaining to coal supply can also be made accessible through this platform.
Improved Operations
For coal companies, the portal offers a practical tool to monitor stock and power station requirements for effective production planning. The Indian Railways, on the other hand, can leverage the portal to place rakes based on actual coal availability. Moreover, power stations can efficiently plan future schedules by tracking rakes in the pipeline and the expected time of arrival.
About the Key Organisations Involved
| Organisation | Founded | Key Functions |
|---|---|---|
| NTPC | 1975 | Providing reliable power solutions in an economical, efficient, and environment-friendly manner. |
| CEA | 1948 | Formulating National Electricity Plan every five years for optimum resource utilization for power generation. |
| POSOCO | Not mentioned | Supervising and controlling all aspects related to operations and manpower management of Regional and National Load Despatch Centres. |
| CRIS | 1986 | Managing information systems from all disciplines and functions of the Indian Railways. |
About PRAKASH
This new web portal, PRAKASH, is indeed a significant step towards the transformation of the Indian power sector. By establishing a robust platform for data integration and coordination between key government domains, it holds the potential to streamline information flow, enhance operational efficiencies, and importantly, ensure a steady coal supply to power stations.