Centre wants quicker land acquisition to kick-start power projects in Karnataka

Union minister Piyush Goyal has urged Karnataka to expedite land acquisition under Right of Way (ROW) to implement long-pending power projects related to inter- and intra-state transmission lines, which can bring surplus power from the central grid to the state.

“The problem of inadequate power supply and outages in Karnataka, more particularly in Bengaluru, could be fully solved with the completion of all these projects,” the Minister of State for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines told reporters on Tuesday after meeting Karnataka government officials on issues related to his ministry.

Taking note of slow progress on these projects as property losers demand higher compensation, Goyal asked the government to act expeditiously through early resolution under the ROW.

He mentioned four delayed projects of transmission lines that are aimed at drawing power to the state from the central grid. These are: 400kv Yelahanka LILO project (approved in October 2011), 400 kv Dharmapuri-Somanahalli D/C line (approved in December 2011), 400 kv Madhugiri-Yelahanka D/C line (approved in October 2011) and 765 kv Madhugiri-Dharmapuri (Salem new) S/C line). “If all these projects are realised, Karnataka will get surplus power supply,” the minister noted.

Goyal also announced that the Centre had approved a Renewable Energy Management Centre in Bengaluru to support large-scale grid integration. Calling coal problems a history in India, he said, “Last year, there was a reduction in the import of coal to the tune of Rs 24,000 crore and this year our target is Rs 40,000 crore.

From 2-3 days’ stock of coal available to power plants to straight 51 days’ stock of coal, it is a reflection of the hard work and commitment of all mine employees. We are also looking at doubling the mineral output in the next 3-4 years and becoming a net exporter of minerals,” he said.

Goyal thanked Karnataka for signing Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) though it has accepted only operational efficiencies, not its financial aspects.

‘LED bulb scheme is ours’
Piyush Goyal suggested that Karnataka had “hijacked” the Centre’s scheme to provide subsidised LED bulbs to people. The programme was re-packaged in a different form to showcase it as their project, he quipped.