`108 crore to make Mysore 'power rich'

More facilities:

If Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje’s words turn into action, Mysore will be seeing improved facilities on power front within a year. The department is spending a whopping ` 108 crore on various works in Mysore region alone.

This was announced by the minister after dedicating 220 kv power receiving unit at Vajamangala here on Tuesday.

“Of the estimated amount, `40 crore has been spent on creating the facility at Vajamangala. The works that would be taken up later, include power lines between Hootagalli-Periyapatna-Deshipura-Sindhuvallipura-Vijayanagar-Kadakola-Vajamangala-Bannimantap-Hullahalli-Thandya-Chunchanakatte-T N Mugur and SRS Hootagalli, to be laid within in a year,” said the minister.

On the newly commissioned unit at Vajamangala, the minister said it would save 33 million units of power estimated at ` 13 cr per annum. Earlier, the unit at Kadakola was receiving the supply, though overloaded, catering to the surrounding areas. This had resulted in the loss of aforesaid quantity of power. Now, some part of the load on Kadakola unit has been diverted to Vajamangala, thus augmenting voltage of power supplied in the vicinity of the latter.

Another 66 KV capacity sub-station coming up at Thandya Industrial Area in Nanjangud taluk at an estimated cost of `seven crore, foundation for which was laid on Tuesday, is aimed at assuaging the woes of industries in that part. Besides that, areas such as Ramakrishna Nagar, Mysore south, Bogadi, Dattagalli and Doddakere Maidana will also get some respite from power woes when the unit starts functioning. Yet another 66 KV capacity sub-station commissioned at Sindhuvalli in Nanjangud taluk addresses power related woes at Kalale, Muddalli and other villages, again improving voltage supply.

Saying that equal emphasis is also being laid on checking Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses, the minister said she has instructed all the power supply corporations to bring it down atleast by two per cent.

In an attempt to make consumers be a part of energy saving exercise, the minister appealed to them to switch over to CFL bulbs. It has become inevitable, and Mysore is no exception either. Ironically Mysore Palace was the first to get power connection, besides Shivanasamudra in the same region first to generate hydel power, the minister added.

Saying it loud and clear that he too is committed in ensuring sufficient power, Opposition leader in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah exhorted the farmers to cooperate with the department in fixing meters to pumpsets. Informing that there are 18 lakh pumpsets in the State, Siddaramaiah said the officers are quick to add that farmers’ non-cooperation in fixing meters to pumpsets is a hurdle in taking up energy audit.

“It is only through audit the department could record various losses in supply of power and take some measures. The farmers should discuss the issue with their leaders and arrive on a consensus. Once the meters are installed, the farmers can demand for concession on the bill”, said Siddaramaiah. If there is an increase in power supply, it would also augment food production making us self-reliant. He advised Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) Managing Director Latha Krishnarao also present on the dais to be ready with alternative facilities as and when they receive complaints.

Earlier, the minister dedicated newly constructed 66/11 KV capacity sub-station at Sindhuvalli in Nanjangud taluk.

Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (Cesc) Managing Director M Govindappa,  KPTCL Director Prathap Kumar, chief engineer A J Hosmani and others were present.