State to get transformers from Kerala, West Bengal

The State government has decided to increase the transformer repair facilities in the State and also procure quality transformers from West Bengal and Kerala government-owned companies, to meet the energy demands.

Minister for Energy Shobha Karandlaje, in a reply to a question in the Legislative Council, raised by E Krishnappa (JD-S) on Tuesday, said that among the four lakh transformers installed in the State, at least 5,000 turn defunct every month. Delay in the repairs had been causing problems. Preference has been given for repairing transformers installed for drinking water schemes, she said.

It has been proposed to establish more transformer repair centres in the State and install CCTV cameras to keep a tab on the works, she said and added that the transformer failure rate was more in the jurisdictions of Hubli Electricity Supply Company and Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company.

Drought and failure of borewells had forced farmers to install irrigation pumpsets illegally on a large scale, which led to transfarmer breakdowns, forcing the department to increase the number of repair centres, she said.

Replying to another question raised by BJP MLC Bharati Shetty, Karandlaje said that her department was committed to provide quality power to the consumers during summer next year, despite the drought conditions faced by the State this year. The minister said all South Indian states are facing an acute power shortage, and only Gujarat was self-sufficient.