Bengaluru: 4-hour power cuts to end shortly, says Energy Minister D K Shivakumar
Bengaluru: With the government facing rising anger across the city over arbitrary power cuts, Energy Minister D K Shivakumar did a 360 degree turn on Wednesday, and promised that the four hour loadshedding for the city and two hours for industry would end, as two units of 300 MW each at Udupi Thermal Power Corporation Limited were expected to generate power in a day or two.
The minister had justified the draconian four hour power cuts - (its upto 13 hours in some districts) - by saying the government could not meet the IT capital’s power requirements as water levels had dropped to less than 40pc of capacity in dams because of the poor monsoon.
In a desperate attempt at fobbing of charges his government was inept — and with one eye on the upcoming investors meet — the minister now claimed that Karnataka is expected to become a power surplus state by Dec-Jan.
Five hundred MW was expected from Yaramaras, Ballari and Kudigi power plants each, besides, 400 MW from Damodar River Valley project. With all these put together, the State may get around 1,500 MW to 2,000 MW which was sufficient to meet the demand, he said.
“Karnataka has requested the Union Government to remove the condition of getting NOC from Tamil Nadu to generate around 700 MW of power from Mekedaatu and Shivanasamudra as they would not impound water for power generation,” he said, adding it was only a run of the river project that would not affect the TN in any manner.
“I have sought an appointment with my TN counterpart to explore the possibility of getting unused power bought by government and private players to Karnataka. People of Tamil Nadu are large-hearted and I am optimistic that they will respond positively to our request.”
Warns power stealers
He was tough against power being stolen, warning of strict action against department officials if they turned a blind eye to drawing power by hooking the Ganesha Mandalis to power lines during Ganesha festivities. The mandalis were permitted to use the generators to illuminate, but would not be allowed to hook up to the power line. Department engineers and linemen would be deployed across the city to check it, he said, adding that the public can call toll-free number 1912 to register complaints.
