'17 lakh IP sets will be regularised'

 
Disclosing this to reporters, he said the Government examining various ways to do it, including imposition of one-time penalty. But nothing has been finalised as yet, he added.

Regularisation of IP sets has been a long-pending political issue. Governments in the past did not risk themselves regularising the sets as farmers opposed it.

The Minister said the ambitious Nirantara Jyoti scheme, which envisages to install a separate feeder for domestic connections in rural areas, will be launched on January 16 at Hoskote.

As many as 70 taluks will be covered at the cost of Rs 1,200 crore under the first phase, and 56 taluks at the cost of Rs 920 crore under the second phase of the project. Nirantara Jyoti also aims to provide 24/7 power supply to domestic consumers in rural areas.

“The project, once implemented, will put an end to stealing of power in the name of IP sets. It will be implemented in one year,” he pointed out.

Mekedatu project shelved

The Minister said the proposed hydel power project at Mekedatu has been shelved due to environmental reasons. The project requires nearly 10,000 hectares of forest land. It will have a major impact on the environment, he pointed out.

The energy minister expressed his helplessness on the State’s facing the power crisis. country is facing the crisis.