Load shedding will continue, students may be spared

He will be meeting with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa shortly in this regard, the minister said.
Speaking to Deccan Herald on telephone, Eshwarappa ruled out the possibility of purchasing power from outside sources this year. He said against the daily demand of 140 million units in the State, power supply stood at 118 million units including contribution from hydel, thermal power units and the central grid.

Eshwarappa said power worth Rs 3,000 crore was purchased by the State from outside sources last year. Election forced the State Government to go in for procurement by spending such a huge amount. The Government had decided to use a similar amount of money to improve generation capacity by installing new units and by strengthening the existing units this year.

Asked whether the State Government would have taken a similar stand this year if there was any election around, Eshwarappa denied to comment. A final decision on purchasing the power would be taken in the meeting with CM, he said.

On the allegations from Opposition leaders that load shedding was enforced even though hydel power generating reservoirs were brimming, Eshwarappa said hydel power units contributed just 33 percent of the total power generated in the State. The rest is from thermal power units and renewable sources.

The generation at Raichur and Bellary thermal power units is inconsistent as frequent technical snags dogged the units. The seven units at Raichur had become obsolete while the Bellary unit is new and yet to attain optimum capacity. The problem will be eased next year as an addition of 1,250 MW power to the State grid is expected, he said.

Nirantara Jyoti
Earlier in the day, speaking to media persons he said that the work related to the first phase of Nirantara Jyoti scheme for providing uninterrupted power supply in rural areas for non-agriculture purpose will commence from January 15.
The minister said, work related to the scheme would be completed by 2010.
The scheme will be implemented in the villages of 70 taluks at a cost of Rs 1,202 crore in the first phase and in the remaining 56 taluks at a cost of Rs 920 crore in the second phase.