'Mescom gets only 118 MW power'

Low frequency failure : It takes 2 hours to restore power after it trips

Responding to citizens complaints regarding frequent power disruption at a Janaspandana programme organised for Mangalore-A Hobli at the NGO Hall here on Saturday, Manjappa explained that the power supply will be disconnected automatically when load exceeds the supply limit. Similarly, it will take about 1-2 hours to restore the power supply, once it was tripped, he added.

When Mangalore City Corporation Corporator Mariyamma Thomas complained about the frequent power cuts in Mangalore, Manjappa said that the Load Despatch Centre (LDC) of KPTCL in Bangalore monitors the demand and supply of power across the State.
“While MESCOM has been allotted 500 MW power supply, the quantity reserved for Mangalore is 130 MW. However, State supplies onlly 118 MW at present, he said adding that this leads to power shortage situation in Mangalore.
Further, he pointed out that technical failure in 7 power units at Raichur and another at Bellary also caused power shortage situation.

 “It is not possible to increase power production at hydro-electricity projects according to the increase in demand. Because, all hydro-electricity projects mandatorily have to reserve water in its reservoir to last till April-May, 2010,” he said and asserted that MESCOM failed to supply power for 22 hours a day as per government agreement.

No facilities at Nemmadi
Mariamma complained that there is no proper arrangements for the speedy distribution of RTC at the Nemmadi Kendra in Mangalore.
“Though there are two counters to distribute RTC, most of the time, one counter remains closed. Citizens are made to wait till evening to obtain an RTC,” she added. Tahsildar Ravichandra Naik said that the work of a building with 10 new counters has already been completed. Though it was scheduled to be inaugurated by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, the programme has been withheld in the wake of flood in North Karnataka, he added. Meanwhile, Mariamma demanded that the building should be inaugurated at the earliest.

“We need not wait for the Chief Minister for the inaugural. Let MCC Mayor M Shanker Bhat inaugurate it,” she suggested.  
Shanker Bhat said that the matter will be discussed with the Deputy Commissioner and a decision will be taken soon.

Kutumba Suraksha Yojna
Mariamma brought to the notice of the meet that the beneficiaries under the Rashtriya Kutumba Suraksha Yojna, who were cheated by an official through a cheque scam, are still deprived of their benefits.
 Though MLA N Yogish Bhat directed officials to distribute cheques of Rs 10,000 under the scheme to widows immediately in the previous Janaspandana meet, none of the beneficiaries have got the cheque so far even after six months, Mariamma said.

Illegal buildings
Nagarika Hitharakshana Vedike President Hanumanth Kamath raised the issue of corruption in the Town Planning division of MCC. He alleged that even though encroachments take place and buildings are being constructed violating norms, officials in the Town Planning division remain mute spectators.
MCC Commissioner Dr Vijayaprakash assured that the corporation will take stern action against violators.

Further, Kamath urged that all official bottlenecks should be cleared for the introduction of KSRTC buses on Mangalore - Udupi route.
Certificates of Bhagyalaxmi Scheme for girl children and cheques of various government schemes were distributed on the occasion. Mangalore Urban Development Authority Chairman Dr Madhava Bhandari, Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer Kantharaju and other officials were present.