With several thermal power plants facing an acute shortage of coal, Coal Minister Piyush Goyal has asked the Railways to increase coal loading to up to 500 rakes per day to meet power demand in summer.
The minister, who also holds the railway portfolio, reviewed the coal stock at various power plants and coal loading by the Indian Railways.
The minister directed Coal India to give priority to power plants to supply dry fuel.
It was decided that coal loading would be stepped up to 500 rakes per day from the present 464 rakes per day to ensure power supplies are not impacted due to fuel shortage at the plants, sources said.
Of the 113 thermal power stations, 51 are facing a critical situation, in terms of coal stocks, as their stocks are sufficient for just less than 10 days, said a Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report dated February 29.
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