The government said that availability of coal with power stations is improving as the companies have been advised to ensure priority movement of the dry fuel to them. According to an official release, of the total 181 coal rakes dispatched on Monday, in which 147 were for the power sector. It said, in addition, seven rakes and another 1, 77,000 tonnes of coal were dispatched through merry-go-round, MGR, exclusive arrangements of power houses for transport, to the power plants.

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 release said that the coal stock position in the power stations of Northern India is also being continuously reviewed.