HC notice on power supply to rural areas

Govt directed to ensure adequate energy

G R Mohan, a City-based advocate and party in person, has in his complaint alleged that the State has violated the High Court order dated March 23 to provide additional power to rural areas in the State.

In his submission, the complainant has said that power supply has worsened after the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections and the power sector had violated the interim order of the High Court.

The complainant has alleged that despite notice being served on them regarding the Court order, the power sector authorities had failed to implement it, in disobedience of the interim directions of the High Court and it amounts to contempt of the Court.

Adjourned to April 16

The Division Bench comprising Justice K L Manjunath and Justice B V Nagarathna has ordered emergency notice to B M Chandrashekar, Financial Advisor, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) and S J Sampath Kumar, Under Secretary, State Energy Department. The matter has been adjourned to April 16.

The Bench comprising Justice V Gopala Gowda and Justice B S Patil had directed the State Government to give two hours of additional power to the rural areas in the State to bail out farmers in distress, until monsoon steps in.

The Bench had directed the State to ensure adequate power supply both in urban and rural areas and had hoped that the Government will streamline all the available resources to secure required quantity of power.

Observing that the State is in a position to make available power both in the rural and urban areas, the Bench directed the State to help the students preparing for examinations by providing adequate power.

The Bench also said that supply of drinking water should not be hindered due to indiscriminate load shedding and it has also take all possible steps to increase power supply in the State. The Government had assured to meet the requirements.