No power crisis in State: Eshwarappa
''As of now, there is no power crisis in State; but if it does not rain, God should save us,'' said Minister for Energy and the District-in-Charge K S Eshwarappa.
Addressing a press conference after chairing the KDP meeting in Zilla Panchayat here on Monday, he said, “Since there have been rains, though not heavy, in some parts of the State, many farmers are not using pump sets. Hence, the situation is under control.”
“Raichur and Bellary thermal power plants have coals’ stock lasting for another seven days. Water in Sharavathi and Kali rivers have been kept unused,” he informed.
Presently, the State is generating 7,000 mw power. Centre is giving us 1,543 million units of power. It is just 17 per cent of the State’s requirement. But, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are getting 33 per cent of their actual consumption from the Centre, the minister said.
Last year, the Centre has given only 1,100 mw power. The issue has been discussed with Union Minister for Energy Sushil Kumar Sindhe. He has been urged to provide at least 2,500 mw power to the State, Eshwarappa explained.
Power wastage has been curbed. It was 26 per cent earlier which has come down to 22 per cent. There has been electricity theft worth Rs 18 crore. A sum of Rs 100 crore has been collected as fine, he informed.
Stating that if Rs 20,000 crore-Tadadi power project is shifted from Karnataka it would be a great loss, Eshwarappa said the government has regards towards the environmentalists, but some self-styled environmentalists are misleading the people. Many states are competing to get the project to their place. He said the government will launch a project as per which the district in which power is being generated will get 24-hour power supply.
Official suspended
Ambedkar Development Corporation District Manager Ranganath has been suspended for not implementing Ganga Kalyana scheme properly, thus denying irrigation facilities to the beneficiaries of 52 units, Eshwarappa said.
Ranganath should reply to the Deputy Commissioner within three days in this regard.
Further action will be taken against him based on the DC’s report, he informed.
“Opposition parties are doing a fair job in State. I respect the allegation that I have not concentrated much on the district.I will correct it. I will follow the instruction of the party’s State president Sadananda Gowda who said the district-in-charge minister should review his district’s progress once in 15 days,” the district-in-charge minister said.
He said the government is not neglecting the issue of repair of Datta shrine. Necessary steps have been taken.
