What are the advantages in using electricity from coal fired thermal power plants?

Answer 1

Advantages

1).Fuel used is cheaper.

2).Smaller space is required to hydro power plant.

3).Economical in initial cost compared to hydro plants.

4).Thermal plants can be placed near load centres unlike hydro and nuclear plants.

5).plants can withstand for certain extent.

Disadvantages

1).requires higher maintenance and operational costs.

2).pollution of atmosphere.

3).huge requirement of water.

4).Handling of coal and disposal of ash is quite difficult.

5).Efficiency of thermal plant is less (30-35%).

Answer 2

Coal is abundant and (relatively) cheap.

{Especially if you ignore the effects on the ecology.}