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Title: Need to allot adequate quantity of coal to the Government of Karnataka for the proposed thermal power projects in and outside the State.
SHRI D.B. CHANDRE GOWDA (BANGALORE NORTH): The Government of Karnataka plans to increase power availability in the State by setting up four thermal power generation stations. These projects are planned to be executed by the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited as Joint ventures with private partners. The projects are proposed at Yermarus and Yellapura in Raichur, Gulbarga and Chhattigarh and the State Government have requested the Central Government to allot coal for these projects. The allotment of coal is still pending with the Central Government. Unless coal is allotted, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests will not issue the clearance certificate. It is estimated that Karnataka would need about one crore tones of coal for these thermal power projects.
Karnataka needs power for rapid industrialization and also for providing power to people. At present the State is purchasing power from other States. With the realization of the above power projects, State’s dependence upon other States for power will be reduced significantly.
I, therefore, request the Central Government to accede to the request of the State Government so that necessary environmental clearances may be obtained from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.