Karnataka in grip of major power crisis

Karnataka in grip of major power crisis
Bangalore, PTI :
Faced with a grim power scenario, Karnataka government today imposed a 20 per cent load-shedding for the rest of the current month and a 25 per cent power cut for the next month.

Minister for Energy K S Eshwarappa told the Legislative Assembly that power situation in Karnataka -- more than 60 per cent of the state's generating capacity is hydel-based and depends heavily on the inflow of Linganamakki, Supa and Mani dams -- is precarious owing to failure of the monsoon.

"The total power availability in the three major reservoirs as on July 22 is 1,498 million units (MU) compared to 5,666 MU last year on the same day, a reduction of 4,168 MU," he said.

"Despite the alarmingly low levels of water, the drawing of power from hydel stations averages 40 MU daily. This is not a sustainable situation."

Responding to questions from H D Revanna, Karadi Sanganna Amarappa (both JDS) and Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli (Congress) during question hour, he said daily consumption has gone up to 116 MU in the current month, compared to 99 MU last year, a 16 per cent increase on a day-to-day basis.

Eshwarappa said a Cabinet Sub-Committee which reviewed the situation has decided to limit daily consumption to about 100 MU for July and August 2008, considering the levels which were not sustainable.

"This will warrant load-shedding of 20 per cent for the remaining days of July and a 25 per cent power cut for August 2008. The Sub-Committee will review the position on a weekly basis and restore power supply in the event that monsoons pick up and the reservoir levels improve," he said.