More mini hydel projects planned in State

The State government has sought a report from the Karnataka Power Corporation on possible avenues to set up mini hydel power projects in the State.

“Private players generate power using State’s natural resources, but sell it at higher rate to the government. Hence,the government intends to generate power utilising the natural resources,” Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje said on Thursday. She was speaking to reporters after laying the foundation stone for the five-MW solar power plant at Shivanasamudram in Malavalli taluk of the district.

Karandlaje said  “wrong policies” of the governments during the period 2002-2004 allowed private players to sell power to the government at a higher tariff, and a report has been sought with a view to  rework the policy.

A final decision on setting up more mini hydel projects would be taken on the basis of the report. More emphasis would be laid on mini hydel projects in the coming days. The government would extend assistance to private players who come forward to set up wind and solar power plants.

The minister said power projects with cumulative generation capacity of 270 MW had been stalled owing to water disputes in Cauvery basin.

Coal linkages

Karandlaje said the Union government has convened a meeting in July first week to discuss supply of coal to thermal power plants.

“We hope that coal linkages will be provided to the State on a priority basis,” she said. A solar power policy with a plan to generate 200 MW power in five years would soon be unveiled, she added.

The Rs 65-crore photovoltaic plant at Shivanasmudra is the first plant being set up in the State under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. The plant is expected to be functional in about 10 months.