No load shedding in K'taka after 2 months: Minister

Shimoga, Jun 27 (UNI) Karnataka Power Minister K S Eshwarappa today announced that there would not be any load shedding in the state after two months.

Participating in a programme organised by the Shimoga Working Journalists Association here, he said the government was taking appropriate measures to tackle the existing energy crisis.

At present, the state's demand was 9,300 MW against the power generation of 5,000 MW. The state was borrowing 3,000 MW from the neighbouring states and facing a shortage of 1,300 MW, he explained.

Mr Eshwarappa said the BJP Government was committed to keep its election promise of free power supply to the farmers, who are using IP set of 10 HP, and due to this the state would have to bear an additional burden of about Rs 850 crore.

He said within next 15 days, the Bellary Thermal Power Plant with 500 MW capacity, would be dedicated to the nation and the eighth unit of Raichur Thermal Power Plant of 250 MW would start functioning by September 2008. The Varaahi Power Project of 150MW capacity would be functional by 2009, he added.

Mr Eshwaappa said in order to give free supply to the farmers and stop leakage of power, the government had decided to make fixing of meters compulsory.

There was 32 per cent power leakage in the state and it would be controlled in a phased manner, he added.

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