State to buy 450 MW power from Damodar Valley Corp

Move aimed at providing uninterrupted supply during exams

Power Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the State government has decided to purchase 450 mega watt of power from Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) to tide over power shortage during summer in the State.

Speaking to reporters at KPCC office, he said the State wanted to purchase 1,000 MW, but  DVC has finally agreed to supply 450 MW for the next 25 years. The State government will soon sign a power purchase agreement with  DVC, he added.

The minister said the State will face shortage of power in the summer months. But steps are being taken to ensure that students do not face any inconvenience. 

Directions have been issued to the officials not to resort to unscheduled load shedding. The department will provide at least single-phase power supply round the clock in rural areas during examinations, he added. 

He said the department has decided to set up transformer repair centres in all taluks. Currently, there are only 70 transformer repair centres in the State, he added.

Repetition of allegations

“I am Hiremath’s fan.” This is how Shivakumar reacted when asked about allegations of corruption being made by S R Hiremath of Samaja Parivarthan Samudaya against him. “I am his fan. He remembers me frequently. But all allegations being made by him (Hiremath) are repetition of what H D Kumaraswamy (JD-S leader) has already made against me. I actually hear Kumaraswamy’s voice whenever Hiremath speaks,” he stated.

He said Kumaraswamy had made several allegations against him, but they were all far from truth. Hiremath is only repeating them, he added.