State will be energy self-sufficient by June: Siddu

Karnataka is expected to overcome hurdles on the energy front by June next year, as 2,300 MW of power will be added to the grid, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said here on Friday.

The State is short of 3,000-3,500 MW of power, with the Mysuru-based Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (Cesc) alone facing a shortage of 200-250 MW per day, he said.
 “Though the princely state of Mysore pioneered power generation in Asia, we are still reeling under energy crisis,” he added.

On alternative sources of energy, the chief minister said solar energy was another priority sector. A pilot project on solar pumpsets is under way at Malavalli in Mandya district. 

The government is providing a subsidy of Rs 7,000 crore on electricity bills for about 23 lakh pumpsets in the State. Referring to the Opposition’s persistent demand to buy power from other states, Siddaramaiah said that was not easy as new corridors had to be set up for the same. He blamed the previous government for “doing nothing” for power generation.
DH News Service