India uses most of its coal from coal India mines , a behemoth from decades.
Our power plants were designed with negligible environmental concerns initially.
The pollution you see every winter in the north, is compounded severely by these coal burning plants. But its a conscious choice of low cost above environment.
A decade back we tried putting up gas based generators like enron. Failed miserably due to cost per unit.
India is encouraging the thermal power plants spread across the country to use domestic coal instead of imported coal.
india.mongabay.com
So in 19- 20 , we imported 250 MT against 600 MT local supply.
The above link is a good reference.
Now in environmentally conscious times, courts give decisions at anytime to shut the coal plants .