‘Power at affordable rate need of hour’

Bangalore, dhns: The nation is fortunate not to have witnessed any major electrical grid collapse in the last five years,  said R P Singh, CMD, Power Grid Corporation of India. Delivering the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Lecture at the Institute Day celebrations 2008 here on Wednesday, he said the Indian power sector is currently passing through an evolutionary phase wherein numerous radical changes are taking place in its structural, institutional and operational arrangements.

“Mere availability of power no longer satisfies consumers’ demand. Today, the consumer looks for secure, reliable and quality power at an affordable price,” he said.

Stir against sugar plant closure

Maddur, dhns: Activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike blocked the Mysore-Bangalore highway here on Wednesday in protest against the order of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board that the Mysugar factory be closed. The protesters gathered in front of the bus stand and shouted slogans against the Governor, the Deputy Commissioner and factory Managing Director P K Garg.

‘Energy reserves depleting’

Bangalore, dhns: The nation’s non-renewable energy reserves could deplete within six years if exploited without caution, said K M Shiva Kumar, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industries Department. Inaugurating the Oil and Gas Conservation Fortnight 2008, organised by Indian Oil Corporation on Wednesday, he said, “India consumes 120 million tonnes of energy per day. With the kind of technology available, we can exploit only 33 million tonnes per day. The remaining is being imported from various countries.”

Cop solemnises wedding

Bangalore, dhns:  It was a marriage where the priest was Additional Commissioner of Police Subhash Bharani.

The venue: His office. In order to give protection to a couple from Hoskote who wanted to marry, Bharani arranged the marriage at his office. The groom was Manjunath and the bride Manjula. They eloped when their families opposed the alliance.