Coal availability with power stations improving: govt

The government today said availability of coal with power stations was improving as the companies had been advised to ensure priority movement of the dry fuel to them.

Of the total 181 coal rakes dispatched yesterday, 147 were for the power sector, an official release said.

"In addition, seven rakes and another 1, 77,000 tonnes of coal were dispatched through MGR [merry-go-round], exclusive arrangements of power houses for transport, to the power plants," it said.

Till yesterday, the overall average rail loading from Coal India sources was 156 rakes per day, out of which 127 rakes per day were dispatched to the power stations.

"The coal stock position in the power stations of Northern India is also being continuously reviewed. On October 24... A total of 53 rakes were dispatched, out of which 26 rakes were dispatched to Uttar Pradesh, 9 to Rajasthan, 8 to Haryana, 7 to Delhi and 3 to Punjab power stations," it said.

In the last three days, 146 rakes were dispatched to the power stations in north, it added.