Mining: Government to file affidavit in SC

BANGALORE: The mining ban in the state has led to a grave coal shortage leading to a power crisis in the state. With a move to satiate domestic needs, the state government is likely to file an affidavit with the Supreme Court to allow mining activities.After interacting with industrialists at the National Executive Committee Meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in the city on Tuesday, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said that the state government had brought it to the notice of the Supreme Court that the losses worth Rs 4,000 crore to the exchequer were a result of the ban. “One-and-half-lakh jobs have been lost,” he said.The CM added that the ongoing crisis could see the state knocking on the doors of its counterparts. He added that within the next 2-3 years they would pursue efforts to generate an additional 5,000 MW.Gowda said that he had initiated efforts to ensure that these requirements are met. He added that the state was expecting 1,600 MW from Chhattisgarh power plant and 2,100 MW from the Raichur plant, which would take a minimum of two years.