The government has asked state-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) to augment the supply to power producers to 1.55-1.6 million tonnes (MT) per day around the Durga Puja period, and to further scale it to 1.7 MT per day after October 20, according to a source.

The development assumes significance in the wake of the country’s power plants grappling with coal shortages in the country at a time when the festival season has already begun.