Longer spells with no power in August

Longer spells with no power in August
Thursday July 24 2008 09:33 IST

Express News Service

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BANGALORE: Load shedding to the tune of 20 per cent has already been imposed in the state; in the days ahead, there are likely to be longer spells of no electricity, as the state government has made it clear that it has been forced to raise load shedding to 25 per cent of the regular supply in August.

A detailed time schedule for load shedding will be announced within two days. Energy Minister K S Eshwarappa attributed the power crisis in the state to the weak monsoon.

“The poor storage in Linganamakki, Supa and Mani hydel power reservoirs has reduced power generation in the state drastically. While the total demand for power in the state is 128 million units (MU) per day, only 65 MU is being generated and another 35 MU are being sourced from the central grid,” he said in the Assembly on Wednesday.

The Raichur thermal plant, the main source of power for the state, is producing 147 MW of power. The coal stock available there would last only seven days. Action has been initiated for importing coal. Jindal and Tata power companies have assured 50 MW each for the state.

Talks are on with the Chhattisgarh government for the purchase of 500 MW; the state is likely to get 300 MW from Chhattisgarh. Efforts are also on to set up a 2000 MW thermal plant in that state to cater to Karnataka’s need for power.

The 500 MW second unit of the Bellary thermal plant will start functioning from July 28. The Centre had been requested to raise its supply to Karnataka from the present 1542 MW, Eshwarappa said.

The cabinet sub-committee on power will review the situation every fortnight and supply would be improved based on rains and inflow into reservoirs in the coming days, the Minister assured.

Earlier, raising the issue, Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli of the Congress highlighted the plight of the general public and of industries. “Erratic power cuts have affected the drinking water supply, caused huge losses for industries and adversely affected the studies of students,” he said.