'Load-shedding may reduce by Sept 20'

 Energy Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said that the duration of load-shedding may reduce by September 20 across the State.

The minister’s optimistic words have come a day after he had said that the present power shortage may continue till December-end. Drought and dysfunctional thermal power stations were projected as the reasons for severe power shortage. Surprisingly, the same minister tried to project a different picture on Thursday.

The minister said two units at the Bellary Thermal Power Station have developed problems. While one unit is expected to be repaired by September 12, another may begin production by September 17. The combined output of these units would be around 1,000 MW. The Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) is expected to produce 500 MW of additional power. Once the additional power is available, the same would be distributed among Bengaluru city and rural areas of the State.

Shivakumar said the Centre had agreed to provide 200 MW of power from the Central Grid from 10 pm to 4 am, on a daily basis. The State requested for 1,500 MW, he added. The government, in a couple of days, would decide on purchasing power from private producers.

The State has the highest number of hydel reservoirs. The total capacity is to generate 3,000 MW. Last year, there was no power problem as all the reservoirs were full.

He said the third unit of the BTPS would commence functioning from November onwards, and this would help in getting 700 MW. The two units of Yeramarus thermal plant near Raichur would begin producing power in December. Starting December 1, 450 MW would be available from the Damodar Valley Grid. All these would help in easing the power shortage. Efforts are on to conserve water in reservoirs to avoid power crisis in summer.

The minister claimed there are no differences between him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The entire government is supporting the energy department to handle the present problem. Siddaramaiah has consented to purchase power from private companies of Tamil Nadu, he said.

Reacting to BJP leaders’ jibes the Congress government has failed to avoid power crisis, he said, “In the past, water levels in the reservoirs weren’t reduced to this extent. If nature doesn’t co-operate, then nothing can be done. Even during the BJP regime, the state had faced power shortage.”

HC notice to government, KPTCL

The High Court on Thursday ordered notices to the Managing Director of KPTCL and to the Principal Secretary, Energy Department, in a PIL against the unscheduled power cuts in the State. The petitioner G R Mohan, an advocate, has contended that State has failed to supply power according to the Electricity Act, 2003, and Rules 2005.  The petitioner contended the State and KPTCL, in their objections during a petition filed in 2010, had submitted they would buy 1600 MW of power from Chhattisgarh and 1080 MW from Kundakulam, Neyveli and Tuticorin in next five years.

They had further submitted that 4,000 MW of power will be generated from Kudgi (NTPC). But till date nothing has happened, the petitioner argued. The petitioner sought directions to the State to follow the aforementioned acts in letter and spirit in the interest of public. A division bench of acting Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice B V Nagarathna ordered the notices.