Centre has asked utilities to import 4 per cent of their coal requirement until March next year and has called a meeting to revive idling state-owned and private gas-based power utilities on Monday, letters seen by Reuters showed, as the country struggles to meet night-time power demand.
The country’s maximum power demand touched 240 gigawatt (GW) on Friday due to increased consumption on the back of hot weather conditions, an anticipated rise in industrial activity ahead of a festival season and high agricultural demand due to deficient rainfall.
India witnessed its driest August in a century, getting 36 per cent less rain than it usually does in the month.
