New Delhi, Apr 29 (IANS): The Congress on Friday slammed the government over power cuts in the country, saying, "Mahangai full, us par batti gul" (power cuts adding woes to rising inflation).

Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh addressing a press conference said: "On Friday morning at 10.45 a.m., the demand of electricity in the energy exchange is 16,035 megawatt and the supply of electricity in these exchanges is only 2,304 megawatt and that too at what price? Rs 12 per unit megawatt and why it is happening like this? Because 72,074 megawatt capacity plants are right now not operating."

He said the reason behind plants not operating is there is no appropriate amount of coal.

Vallabh said: "The coal mines are having an appropriate amount of coal, but the Narendra Modi government is not able to provide a logistic support to transport the coal from the coal mines to the power generating stations, because they are saying -- we are not having railway racks."

The Congress leader said: "Everyday, there is a demand of coal for 22 lakh tonne but why the supply is only of 16 lakh tonne? Why there is a severe mismatch in demand and supply of coal?"

"In the month of May, we will be having a total demand of power as 2.2 lakh megawatts, what is the plan the Narendra Modi government has made to supply this power in the month of May?

"We demand that this artificial power crisis, which is created due to mismanagement of coal, be immediately resolved and people should be provided relief by providing 24x7 power supply in this summer," Vallabh added.