NEW DELHI, May 18 Reuters India39;s power ministry on Wednesday said it would cut domestic fuel supply to state governmentrun utilities by 5 if they do not import coal for blending by June 15, as officials struggle to address rising power demand.

A heatwave pushed power use to a record high in April, leading to the worst electricity crisis in more than six years and forcing India to reverse a policy to slash coal imports. 

If blending with domestic coal is not started by 15.06.2022 then the domestic allocation of the concerned defaulter thermal power plants will be further reduced by 5, the power ministry said in a statement.

It said state governmentrun utilities, most of which are debtladen, will have to import more coal to fire their power plants due to reduced local supply if they delay placing orders and supplies do not arrive by June 15.

India had set state and federal governmentrun utilities a target to import 10 of their coal needs for blending with domestic coal.

The power ministry has asked all utilities to ensure delivery of 50 of the allocated quantity by June 30, another 40 by endAugust and the remaining 10 by the end of October.

If the imported coal for blending purposes does not start arriving at the power plants by June 15, all the defaulter generating companies would have to import coal for blending purpose to the extent of 15, the ministry said.

Not much blending has taken place in the months of April and May, it noted, and said plants which…