The grim situation of coal in India has considerably diminished. As per the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) data, coal stocks position in power plants is comfortable with nearly 30 plants having fuel for more than 30 days, compared to the pathetic situation in the same period last year. The number has improved vastly to only five stations this year on the same date. 31 stations had fuel stock for less than a week on August 13, last year.

CEA data shows that while another 18 plants have coal for more than 20 days, the situation is grim only in one plant that has coal for only for 4 days. 10 thermal power stations have coal for more than 15 days while another 22 have stocks for more than 10 days as on Augutst 13, the data indicates.

NTPC's 2,600 mw thermal project at Ramagundam project is the only plant that has less than four days of fuel stock. The situation was alarming in the same period last year, with as many as 18 power stations struggling with less than four days of coal, the official data said.