The project, which involves pumping back of water used for generating power into reservoirs, aims at setting up a 800 MW unit at Varahi and 650 MW unit at Sharavathi hydro-stations. The technology will be obtained from Japan the total project cost is estimated to be around Rs 4500 crores.

Managing Director of KPCL S M Jamdar told Deccan Herald on Sunday that in a few months tenders will be floated. “The project will be completed in three to four years”, he added.

KPCL, which was the first agency to set up a wind power station at Kappat Gudda in Gadag district, has also decided to harness solar energy in a big way to meet State’s power needs.

According to Jamdar three grid connected solar power generating units would be set up in next eight-nine months. These units, each with 3-MW capacity, would be set up at Alnawar near Dharwad, Yapaladinni near Raichur and a village near Kolar. The total project cost is around Rs 180 crores.

Earlier speaking at a function organised to mark the 39th Foundation Day Celebration of KPCL, Jamdar observed that there was a need for a radical change in attitude of KPCL employees to enable the company reach the new goals. “During the last 39 years we have added 5,500 MW to the grid, but in the next five years we are required to add 7500 MWs to the grid”, he added.

“Over the years KPCL’s share in State’s power generation had come down. If the employees did not pull up their socks now, in a few years time private generators would overtake the KPCL.

“There are some shortcomings in the Company. Firstly during the last 20 years, the wind and mini-hydel sectors have been neglected. Secondly in some areas we could have saved up to Rs 500 crores or more. Thirdly the Company is over staffed”, Jamdar observed.

Yeddyurappa declared that the Government would not allow the state to face power scarcity. “The state had a surplus power for a long time. But unscheduled load shedding has become inevitable due to failure of monsoon. The government is ready to invest any amount required to meet state’s need. In the next five years, the government has set a target to add 5,000 MW to the grid ”, he added.

As the state is heavily dependent upon hydro-electricity, it has to now tap thermal and renewable sources of energy so that it faced no problems whenever there was failure of monsoon.

MoU

 The KPCL and the Chattisgarh government will sign a MoU on July 25 for setting up of a 2,000 MW capacity pit head coal based thermal power plant in Chattisgarh. “Myself and (Power Minister) K S Eshwarappa will be visiting Raipur on July 24 to sign the MoU”, Chief Minster B S Yeddyurappa announced.