Yelahanka power plant won't be shut

A day after Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) said the Yelahanka power plant will be shut down following a notice by Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), which operates
the plant, denied the proposal.

Following complaints by some of the neighbours, that the power plant is still operational, Deccan Herald spoke to some of the officials to know the present status of the power plant.

When mentioned about the complaints of the people neighbouring the power plant that the plant is still operational, official sources on condition of anonymity said the plant was never closed and there was no closure order as such.

“Considering the power situation, there is no proposal to close down the plant. The plant is operational at present,” said an official from KPCL.

He reiterated that the plant will be converted to gas, but at present the plant will run as it is. Stating that the plant is generating 20 megawatt of power, he said the power generated is supplied to a portion of the City and the shutdown will affect the power situation in the City. When mentioned about the Bescom’s press release, the official said that KPCL has not made any such statement.

Gearing up

Interestingly, Bescom authorities maintained that they are gearing up to meet the power crisis in case the plant shuts down.

Bescom also stated that the KPCL and the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) has decided to run the Yelahanka power plant on bio-fuel and the
same will be launched at the earliest.

“There was a discussion in this regard recently and a decision had been taken to shut it down,” sources in Bescom said.

Shortage of 40 MW

In its press release dated August 21, Bescom had stated that it has made arrangements to ensure power supply for areas like Sahakaranagar, Judicial layout, Allalsandra, Amruthahalli, Byatarayanapura, Vidyaranyapura and surrounding areas, where the power supply will be hit due to shut down of Yelahanka plant.

Bescom had stated that there will be a shortage of 40 megawatt of power, after the plant shuts down and it has to resort to unscheduled load shedding in these parts of the City and had requested the consumers to co-operate.

However senior officials of KPCL and KPTCL were not available for comments despite repeated attempts.