New Delhi, July 16 Deficient rainfall and shortage of coal have crippled the electricity generation in the country, with some power stations running on fuel stocks of just couple of days which is termed"supercritical".

" Some plants are running at two days coal stock and there is a loss in power generation due to lesser coal supply," Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Chairman Rakesh Nath told reporters here.

The country is witnessing loss in power generation as the coal stocks at some of the power plants are drying up. The minimum coal stock requirement of a thermal power plant is 10-15 days, otherwise the position is termed critical.

Hydro power generation has taken a beating due to delayed monsoon in Northern India. It was 10,555 MW in June 2008, while the same stood at 9,627 MW in June this year, a drop of around nine per cent, says the CEA data.

Around eight thermal power stations are running at"supercritical"coal stocks of less than four days and nine plants have fuel"critical"fuel stocks of less than seven days, according to latest CEA data.

The 1,340-MW Sanjay Gandhi thermal power station in Madhya Pradesh, Khaparkeda power station in Maharashtra have coal stocks for only two days.

The country&aposs largest power generator, NTPC&aposs, 705-MW Badarpur thermal power station and Korba East V in Chhattisgarh have coal for less than four days, the data stated.