<span style="color: #222222;">Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister R. K. Singh on Thursday reviewed the status of import of coal for blending in the thermal power plants with the states. Power Secretary Alok Kumar, senior officials of the State Governments and GENCOS were present in the meeting held virtually. The Minister highlighted the importance of importing coal for blending in the thermal power plants, in view of the constraints in domestic coal supply to meet the increased demand. The states were advised to place orders for importing of coal for blending purpose so that the additional coal reaches power plants from this month itself.<br />''<br />''The Minister stated that the domestic coal would be supplied to all GENCOS in proportion to the coal received from coal companies. He further advised the states to increase the output from the captive mines to meet their coal requirements which will help in reducing the burden on the linkage coal. He emphasized that states need to take actions to ensure coal supply to their power plants by ensuring off-take in the Rail-cum-Road, RCR mode to meet the shortfall in coal requirement at their power plants. He stated that in the event of states not lifting the RCR coal, it would be de-allocated and offered to other states.<br />''<br />''During the meeting, it was noted that Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have placed orders for the import of coal, while Punjab and Gujarat are in the advanced stage of finalisation of the tenders. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are in the process of issuing the tenders. Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand have not yet issued tender or taken any significant actions for the import of coal. These states were advised to take necessary actions to ensure coal supply to their power plants.</span><br />