Appeals to BJP in getting coal block sanctioned
Terming the reported statement by Chattisgarh Chief Minister that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had annulled the agreement for setting up a power generation plant in Chattisgarh as ‘a statement made due to lack of information’, Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday clarified that the project was still on but had been delayed as coal block had not been allotted to the State.
Responding to a question by BJP member Sunil Subramani M.P. during question hour in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, Mr. Shivakumar said he would not condemn the statement by Mr. Raman Singh reportedly made during a public function on Monday as he believed that it was made due to lack of information on the issue.
Mr. Shivakumar said he would appreciate the interest taken by former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and the then Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje in initiating the project. However the State government had not been able to take forward the proposal as it was yet to get a coal block allotted. Mr. Shivakumar said he would request the Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council K.S. Eshwarappa to join hands with the government in getting the coal block allotted. “Please fix a date for leading a delegation to the Union Minister concerned and take the lead in convincing the Centre on the need for coal block allotment”, he told Mr. Eshwarappa.
Mr. Eshwarappa subsequently said that they would stand by the State government on the issue and would be part of the efforts to see the Chattisgarh plant materialise.
Replying to the appeal by Mr. Sunil seeking exemption from load shedding, the Minister said it was a tricky issue and it would not be possible to give exemptions to any district especially at a time when the State was facing shortage of coal for thermal power plants.
Replying to another question by JD(S) member Kantharaju, Mr. Shivakumar clarified that permission to farmers for installation of transformers would be processed on ‘first come first served’ basis and they could not change the existing system.
