JOIN US Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday directed officials of the energy department to ensure that there are no power cuts, whatever the situation is even during summers across the state.
Chairing a review meeting with Minister D K Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah admitted that the power situation was grim because of water scarcity in the state due to lack of rainfall and water storage in the dams.
He directed officials of all electricity supply companies (Escoms), Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) and Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) officials to prepare medium and long term plans to ensure sufficient power for summer.
Siddaramaiah assured citizens that 24-hour power supply to Bengaluru and seven hours power supply to farmers will continue even in summers.
Shivakumar pointed out that many sugarcane industries were eager to generate and supply power to the grid. If this materialises, then there were will an additional supply of 800-900 MW to the grid every day. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) was immediately directed to fix the rate to purchase power after discussing with industries.
Shivakumar added that since hydel resources were adversely affected, thrust was being laid on solar generation and by December 2016, 500 MW solar power will also be added.
Plans were also being made to purchase power from other sources to ensure that there is no gap in the demand and supply.
D K Shivakumar, Energy Minister: Many sugarcane industries were eager to generate and supply power to the grid. If this materialises, then there were will an additional supply of 800-900 MW to the grid every day.