The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia informed the Rajya Sabha recently that the country's power generation capacity has gone up from 86,015 mw at the beginning of the 11th Plan (i.e. 1st April, 2007) to 1,31,603 mw at the end of 11th Plan i.e. 31.03.2012 in spite of shortage of fuel.

As on December 4, out of 90 monitored thermal power stations, 38 power stations had coal stock of less than 7 days. The corrective steps being taken by Government are: (i) Ministry of Coal/Coal India (CIL) is pursued periodically to enhance supply of coal to the power stations in the country. (ii) Thrust on ramping up production of coal by captive coal block allotees from existing mines and expedite commissioning of new coal blocks.

(iii) CIL has been directed to sign Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs) with power plants that have entered into long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with DISCOMs and have been commissioned/would get commissioned on or before March 31st 2015. This will include projects of about 32,000 mw to be commissioned in the 12th Plan up to March 31st 2015.