Speaking at the inauguration of National Energy Conservation Day here, the minister said: “The State needs to generate 10,000 MW of power to tide over the crisis. At present, we are generating only 7000 MW. This is insufficient. We will do whatever possible to bridge this gap and meet increase in demand. It should be achievable within the next five years.”
The minister further said that power generating plants are being established at Chattisgarh, Jewargi and Ghataprabha, but would take five years to produce the required output and meet demand. “Until then, the only way out is to initiate power saving measures. The government will alone not be able to get over this difficult situation and will also require the support and cooperation of consumers,” Eshwarappa added.
He also indicated that power theft and leakage/pilferage would have to be tackled in order to meet the increase in demand and laid emphasis on saving power. The programme was organised by the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd (KREDL). Energy department secretary K Jairaj and Latha Krishnarao, managing director of KPTCL were among those present at the event.
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