Shortage of coal supply to power stations could make electricity supply situation worse this summer. "The coal supply position to thermal power stations in the country is not comfortable,' Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh told the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Mr. Ramesh, who was replying to a question on shortage of coal and gas in power projects, said: "As on April 14, 2008, out of 77 coal-based thermal power stations, 24 are critical, having a coal stock of less than seven days. The all-India stock is also low at 10.841 million tonnes, against a normative requirement of 22 million tonnes.' Over 60 per cent of the power generated in the country comes from thermal projects. Mr. Ramesh said rigorous monitoring of supply of coal to power stations was on at all levels to optimise the supply from various sources. Besides urging the Ministry of Coal to augment production of coal, the government was also considering import of coal to meet the domestic shortfall and arranging