CM effect: Load-shedding plan modified, City spared

CM effect: Load-shedding plan modified, City spared
Bangalore, DH News Service:

A day after the BJP state executive committee took strong exception to load-shedding, the State government on Monday decided to provide uninterrupted power supply in Bangalore and reduce load-shedding in rural Karnataka.


As per the new schedule, there will be no load-shedding in Bangalore, while other urban and rural areas will have 2 hours and 10 hours of load-shedding respectively. A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. The meeting was attended by Energy Minister K S Eshwarappa and top officials of the department.

In its July 30 announcement, the government had imposed 2 hours of load-shedding in Bangalore and other urban areas and 14 hours in rural areas, which drew flak from the ruling party. The BJP executive committee had also passed a resolution asking the government to withdraw the decision.

Announcing the new schedule to the media, Eshwarappa said it had been decided to utilise the hydel source to its full capacity of 45 million units to meet the demand. “The State has been receiving good rains of late, and we are hopeful the available water in the reservoirs will suffice for the entire year. Moreover, the chief minister has now assured to give all assistance, including funds to purchase power to ensure proper power supply in the coming days,” he added.

The minister said there was no need to go for power purchase, and that the supply can be ensured using hydel power. He added if such a situation arose, the State would take a decision on power purchase.

“The projected demand for power in August is 120 mu against the supply of 117 mu. The State has decided to fill the gap of 3 mu by increasing the hydel generation. But the new schedule for load-shedding can be implemented only till mid September.

By the end of September, the demand is expected to touch 125 mu. Then, the government has to either go for increased load-shedding or start purchasing power,” official sources said.

Delegation

Eshwarappa said the chief minister on August 6 to Delhi to demand that the Centre provide the full share of power to the State. The State would also demand an increase in the allocation from 1,545 MW to 2,500 MW, he added.

New schedule

Area Load-shedding

Bangalore None
Other urban 2
Rural 10

Steps to meet demand...

*To generate hydel power to its full capacity of 45 mu
*Presently, 40 mu is being generated from hydel source
*To take a delegation to Delhi and demand the Centre its full share of power
* To demand the Centre to increase its allocation from 1,543 mu to 2,500 mu.