Generate energy or lose permit, govt tells power companies

The State government will cancel the permits given to power companies to generate renewable energy if they do not act fast and start power generation soon, Energy Minister D K Shivakumar said on Monday.

The energy department through the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) had given permission to various companies to generate 14,944 MW of renewable energy, including wind, hydro, solar and co-generation.

But only 4,460 MW has been commissioned till date. All “non-serious” players have been issued notices to “perform” or “leave”, Shivakumar said at a press conference here.

The government was finalising the modalities of purchasing 842 MW of power from Damodar Valley Corporation at Rs 4.5 per unit.

Connectivity issues will be finalised by this July, Shivakumar added.

Shivakumar further said the government would give top priority to energising borewells to mitigate the shortage of drinking water. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will hold a review meeting in this regard on May 8, he said.