DARKNESS HOVERS ON POWER PLANTS

Twenty seven thermal power plants in the country are grappling with acute coal shortage with each of them having stocks that will last only a for a week, according to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).The power sector planning body also termed this situation as "critical".Of the 27 plants, 16 have coal stocks that will not last more than four days, according to the latest coal stock positron data (as on March 7) available with CEA."Though there are many reasons, ranging from renovation work to higher generation, for this critical situation, but one of the major reasons is less receipt of dry fuel from the mines," CEA said.As compared to the February data, the situation has improved a little bit.The number of plants with less than a week's stock were 33 in February and the plants with less than four-day stock were 15 last month.The prime reason for acute fuel scarcity at plants remain less supplies from Coal India due to fewer output.