The Power Ministry has proposed issuing a detailed advisory to stakeholders across the power sector to mitigate the effects of erratic weather linked to El Nino. At a review meeting, officials discussed contingency steps to be taken if hydropower and wind generation are affected by deficient rainfall and altered wind patterns. The meeting was attended by the Power Secretary, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) chairperson, representatives of State Load Despatch Centres (SLDCs), state governments and transmission sector stakeholders. The advisory is expected to set out measures to ensure fuel and water availability for thermal plants and to prevent outages by safeguarding critical transmission assets. Officials indicated an emphasis on maintaining adequate coal stocks and arranging reliable water supplies through coordination with state administrations where rainfall shortfalls threaten reservoir levels. Thermal stations will be asked to schedule preventive maintenance to reduce the risk of forced and partial outages during periods of high demand. Generating companies and transmission utilities are likely to be required to identify transmission lines, transformers and other network elements vulnerable to heavy loading so that preventive work can be carried out in advance. The advisory may encourage states to shift agricultural power demand to solar hours to make better use of abundant daytime solar generation and ease evening load pressures. Such measures are aimed at reducing the need to ramp up coal-based generation if output from hydroelectric and wind sources declines sharply. The Prime Minister's Office has directed continuous monitoring of the overall situation and assessment of monsoon impacts on vulnerable districts in coordination with states so that remedial action can be taken when necessary. Queries to the ministry remained unanswered at the time of reporting. Officials underscored the importance of early planning and cross-sector coordination to preserve grid stability.