JOIN USPiyush Goyal, the Union Minister for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy, and Mines, has blamed the state government for the shortage of electricity in Karnataka. He said the country was self-sufficient in coal and electricity.
Speaking to journalists here on Friday, he said there would be no shortage of electricity if the state supported the Centre in extending the power transmission lines.
"Hydroelectric power is suffering in Karnataka for the last three years due to failed monsoons. It is unfortunate that farmers' irrigation pump sets in the state do not get eight hours of power supply for watering of crops. Karnataka can buy power from the Centre at Rs 3 per unit," he said.
He continued: "Since the NDA came to power, we have increased the number of transmission lines in South India. We aim to increase it fivefold."
Asserting that the country has enough coal supplies, Goyal said the Union government had sanctioned solar parks with a capacity of 2,000 MW to Karnataka. "Energy shortage shrunk in April and June 2017, while the peak shortage decreased 0.1% from 7.2% in 2013-14. Similarly, the conventional power generation capacity rose more than 34% from 10,284 megawatts (MW) in March 2014 to 13,859 MW in July 2017," he said.
Under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), 29 out of 39 unelectrified villages, as on April 2015, have been electrified. Almost 92% of rural households in Karnataka have been electrified, he said.
The Union minister also spoke about the distribution of LED bulbs in Karnataka under the UJALA scheme. He said the distribution of 1.66 crore LED bulbs had resulted in savings of
Rs 864 crore per year for consumers. Besides, more than 1.41 lakh LED tube lights and 11,000 energy-efficient fans were also distributed.
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Giving details of Central funds given to Karnataka, Goyal said that while the state had received Rs 61,691 crore during the UPA rule, it got 1,86,975 crore under the 14th Finance Commission. Seven cities in Karnataka have been selected under the Smart Cities Mission while the heritage town of Badami is being developed under the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), he added.
According to Goyal, the Centre has allotted seven coal mining blocks to Karnataka. The total estimated revenue for the lease period is Rs 34,353 crore while the estimated additional contribution through auction is Rs 29,157 crore. The New Mangalore Port Trust will be expanded under a development project of Rs 10,000 crore. Karnataka is also one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) where a Rs 39,107-crore loan has been given to it, he said.