a labourer works inside a coal yard on the outskirts of ahmedabad india april 6 2017 reutersamit davefile photo new delhi oct 10 reuters  india has ample coal stocks to meet power sector demand a coal ministry statement said on sunday a day after the delhi chief minister said a shortage of the fuel meant the indian capital could face a power crisis staterun coal india ltd coalns is using its 40 million tonne stocks to replenish utilities which together have 72 million tonnes of inventory equivalent to four days requirements the ministry statement said a lack of coal has caused a supply shortage in some eastern and northern states with residents in the regions experiencing power cuts stretching to up to 14 hours a day monsoon rains affected coal supplies to power plants and high global prices curtailed generation by utilities that rely on imported coal the ministry said in a separate statement the power ministry said coal supplies to power utilities on saturday rose to 192 million tonnes while consumption was 187 million tonnes it said the level of coal stocks held by power companies will rise as coal india is ramping up the supplies in india over half of 135 coalfired power plants which supply around 70 of the countrys electricity have only enough fuel stocks to last less than three days reuters reported on friday