Coal shortage puts Rs 5 trn investment in power plants at risk: Official

S C Garg also said Coal India should be made professionally more efficient as importing 20 per cent of the coal requirement of the country is "untenable"

Asserting that Rs 5 trillion investment in coal-based power plants was in jeopardy due to the dry fuel shortage, Power Secretary S C Garg on Tuesday said there is an urgent need to bring in large global players for commercial mining to boost output.

Garg also said Coal India should be made professionally more efficient as importing 20 per cent of the coal requirement of the country is "untenable".

He was addressing a round table conference on coal here at India Energy Forum.

"Many of our coal-based power plants in power sector are today gasping for breath. Some of them