6000 MW solar power by 2020: DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru: The state may be facing recurrent power cuts but when it comes to solar and wind energy, there seems to be no shortage. So claims Energy minister D.K. Shivakumar, who announced in the Council on Tuesday that Karnataka was  generating 500 MW of power from solar and wind energy.  

Replying to a question by BJP member Tara Anuradha, Mr. Shivakumar said the government has set a target of generating 6000 MW solar power by 2020. “When our government took over, only 17 MW solar power was being generated, now it has been increased to 500 MW,” he said.

To increase solar energy output, the state has decided to call tender in another 10 districts as per the Solar Energy policy 2014-15. So far, the government has allotted sites to generate 6178 MW of solar power and has reserved 50 taluks for the Central government to take up solar projects.

79.361 sqkm forests burnt
As much as 79.361 sq km forest were destroyed in different tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries recently due to forest fires, disclosed forest minister Ramanath Rai. Home minister Dr G. Parameshwar who replied on behalf of the minister, said the maximum damage was in Bandipur Tiger reserve where 45.71 sq km of forests were destroyed, followed by BRT sanctuary with 11.06 sq km. Besides,  30 acres of forests were damaged in Kappadagudda forest.

‘Fraud in PDS shops’
The Opposition BJP alleged in the Council that green gram packets supplied to fair price shops by the state government are not of the required weight. BJP member Pranesh alleged that instead of supplying one kg green gram packets through PDS, fair price shops were supplying packets containing 700 grams and added that the food minister was clueless about the fraud.

Minister for Food and PDS, U.T. Khader said that if public complaints about the weight problem were received, his department will definitely take action against the concerned fair price shops.