'Save Power' campaign launched in city

A week-long campaign to spread awareness on energy saving began at the Maharaja’s college grounds here on Sunday. Minister for Medical Education and District In-charge S A Ramdas inaugurated the mega ‘Vidyuth Ulithaya Andolana’.

In his address, the minister said the country should attain self-sufficiency in energy to compete with the countries like China.

Recalling the contributions of Sir M Visvesvaraya in starting the first hydel power station, he said the then Dewan of Mysore had put the state on the path of progress through his engineering marvel in power generation and by starting several other projects like silk factory, sandalwood oil, Mysore bank and others.

He stressed on the importance of cutting transmission loss and power theft. The loss which stood at 9 per cent in 1995 has increased to 20 per cent presently. Though, there are power station in every district, the transmission loss is unplugged.

There should be tough action against power theft, he said adding solar energy must be tapped to full potential.

Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Sandesh Swamy said there was huge loss in the government offices as the bulbs and lights were kept on unnecessarily. It was time that there should be an awareness programme for the officers of all departments, he said.

He also stressed on the importance of tapping other sources of energy like solar. The Government offices could become a model by running on solar energy lights, he added.

The event would create awareness about the importance of saving electricity from domestic and non-domestic segment.

The programme would include conduct of debate contest for students and to the public on importance of saving electricity and its methods, conducting science exhibition, display of quality materials and through cultural programmes. Playback singer and actor Rajesh Krishnan presented a musical nite on the first day of the programme.

The week-long exhibition would also host to cultural programme by noted and reputed artistes like M D Pallavi, violinist C N Thyagaraja and Chandrashekar, Shivashankar and group, a Hasyotsava by Krishnegowda, Richard Louis and others, light music by Sangeetha Katti and Bharathanatyam by Radhika Nandakumar.

The awareness expo also hosts a food mela. Sreeshail Raman, Coordinator of the programme Ravi Hoysala, Vishwanath were present.