With a projected 12 percent deficient monsoon, the Centre will boost coal-based power generation to compensate for lower hydel power output, union Power Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.
"We are preparing ourselves to increase coal-based power generation significantly, just like we did last year due to delayed monsoon, so that it can compensate for the lower hydel power and meet the increased demand for pumps to provide water," he said while answering a question on social networking site Facebook.
Goyal said based on the "need assessment in different areas", supplementary public works will be initiated to provide alternative employment.
"Fortunately, the food stocks are at comfortable levels," he said.
It is projected that the hydel power generation will fall during the monsoon due to lower water levels.
Goyal was interacting with the public on Facebook.
-- Indo-Asian News Service
avr/vip/vt
