Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 25: State energy minister, D K Shivakumar, said that he is prepared to be hanged if it is found that the state government had transgressed rules and laws in the purchase of coal procurement.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday October 24, he dismissed as false allegation made by BJP state president, B S Yeddyurappa, that the government had entered into tacit understanding with a private company on this issue. He said that the issue of coal blocks is currently in Supreme Court which is hearing arguments and that in all likelihood, verdict might be out during November this year.

"As the Supreme Court had blocked 204 coal mines in 2006, we had requested the central government to provide coal for thermal power generation units in the state. Punjab government too had placed similar request. As the Supreme Court said that penalty has to be levied in case of blocked mines, in the interests of the state, the government paid the penalty," he claimed.

Shivakumar stated that union energy minister, Piyush Goyal, had argued in favour of Karnataka state in the parliament on this issue. "Because of the fact that Supreme Court has blocked coal mines, the state is incurring a loss of Rs 500 crore annually. During the last three years, we have lost Rs 1,500 crore. As we now have coal stock that is only enough to fuel our plants for half a day, emergency has been declared for thermal power generation. We have asked the concerned to buy coal without delay by calling for tenders by assessing requirement for two months," he stated.

Shivakumar challenged Yeddyurappa to provide documentary evidence if any he has about coal procurement scandal the latter has been referring to, at the house committee meeting being held on October 30.