JOIN US There is nothing much for the power sector in the budget. The addition of power in the current fiscal (2015-16) mentioned in the budget is still on paper as the third unit of the Ballari Thermal Power Station (BTPS) and the first unit of the Yermarus Thermal Power Station (YTPS) are yet to be functional. It is unlikely they will be commissioned by the end of this month.
The projects that have been announced in the budget like the 320-MW gas-based power plant at Yelahanka in Bengaluru and the 1,230-MW Gulbarga Thermal Power Station, 200-MW solar power plant through KPCL and the 2,000-MW Pavagad solar park are not really new. There is already work in progress in all these projects.
The government has entered into an agreement with the public sector major Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) for the Gulbarga thermal project. “We are considering whether to take it up through the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited or through competitive bidding,” P Ravikumar, additional chief secretary of the department, told Deccan Herald.
Similarly, the renewable energy project at Pavagad and the 200-MW solar plant through KPCL were announced much earlier. So was the case with the 1,200-MW solar power plants in 60 backward taluks.
A total of 1,850 MW of the 2,483.85-MW that Siddaramaiah said would be added by the end of this month is still on paper as the super-critical third unit of BTPS (700 MW) and YTPS first unit (800 MW) and renewable energy of 350 MW are yet to become available. This means only 633.85 MW have been added (268 MW purchased from Damodar Corporation Valley and 365.85 renewable energy which could vary as it depends on weather conditions).
Siddaramaiah promised to add 2,655.40 MW more, including 800 MW from YTPS second unit, 705.40 MW from central generating stations, which is basically power purchased from generators like DVS and 1,150 MW from renewable energy sources.
A total outlay of Rs 12,632 crore was announced for the Energy department. Of this, Rs 8,600 crore is for power subsidy. This means, only Rs 4,032 crore is left for covering non-capital expenditure, that is salaries for the staff and the new works.
“We will hardly be left with any money for new projects,” an official said.
Ease of business
In an effort to ensure ease of doing business and improve transparency in submission of applications with regard to power sanction, power evacuation, open access, clearance by electrical inspectorate and approval for power projects, the process will be made online, he said.
“The necessary web-based modules will be developed and deployed shortly,” Siddaramaiah said.
The budget promised to provide infrastructure for 50,000 irrigation pumpsets and carry out the third phase of feeder bifurcation scheme under the programme Nirantara Jyothi. Under this, feeder lines of the domestic and agriculture will be separated to provide uninterrupted power to households.
Siddaramaiah announced to establish 77 sub-stations through Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL). This will help meet the demand-supply gap.