The State government has urged the Centre to provide coal linkages for six thermal power projects (8040 MW), which are being implemented.
“Karnataka is promoting new projects in the public and private sector, with a target for addition of 7000-8000 MW in the next five years to overcome the power shortage, and projects needed 44.9 million tonnes of coal per annum for generating power,” said a memorandum submitted to Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal and Union Minister of State for Power Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia.
Minister for Energy Shobha Karandlaje called on Mr. Jaiswal in New Delhi on Wednesday and appealed for the allotment of coal linkages/coal blocks for thermal power projects in Karnataka. She held discussions with Mr. Scindia on Tuesday.
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The State has been implementing power projects in Gulbarga (1320 MW), Yeramarus (1600 MW), Edlapur (800 MW), Bellary – third unit (700 MW), Godhna in Chhattisgarh (1600 MW) and Ghataprabha (1320 MW).
She asked the Centre to treat State owned-generator company (KPTCL) on a par with Central government entities for allocation of coal block under the gazette notification issued in February 2012. She told both the Ministers to speed up allocation of coal linkages/blocks for projects to ensure timely implementation and commissioning of the projects, which would help meet the demand for power in the State.
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The memorandum said that the Gulbarga thermal power project required coal of six million tonnes per annum (MTPA), Yeramarus: 11 MTPA, Edlapur: 5.50 MTPA, Bellary: 4.80 MTPA, Godhna: 11 MTPA and Ghataprabha: 6.3 MTPA.
BJP MLC Lehar Singh, who is also member of the Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd., Energy Department Principal Secretary D.N. Narasimha Raju, KPTCL Managing Director Selva Kumar and Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Managing Director P. Manivannan, accompanied the Minister.