NEW DELHI, May 19 Reuters India has asked its federal power regulator to allow power generators to import up to 30 of the country39;s coal requirement until March next year, according to a power ministry letter seen by Reuters.

India had asked utilities to import 10 of its total requirement, or about 38 million tonnes, to blend with local coal as demand was outstripping supply, adding that delivery of 19 million tonnes had to be ensured by endJune.

However, in a May 18 letter to the secretary of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission CERC, a federal power ministry official citing a public interest provision in India39;s electricity law said it was imperative power generators be allowed to use more imported coal.

The demand to allow more imported coal reflects the severity of the domestic shortage, which has caused the country39;s worst power cuts in more than six years as a heatwave bakes vast swathes of South Asia.

In the public interest, CERC is hereby directed to immediately allow the higher amount of blending of up to 30 with imported coal in compliance with the decision of the Ministry of Power, without beneficiaries39; consultation up to 31st March, the letter read.

It was not immediately clear if beneficiaries meant power distribution companies or endconsumers. The power ministry did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

The power ministry official said CERC had denied permission to some state governmentrun utilities to import, as the…