There will be no load-shedding in Karnataka after 2 months:Minister

Shimoga, June 27 (UNI) Karnataka Minister for Power K S Eshwarappa today announced that there will be no loadsheddng forever in the State after two months.

Participating in an interaction programme organized by Shimoga Working Journalist Association here, he said that the government is taking appropriate measures to tackle the existing energy crisis.

At present the state's demand is 9,300 MW against power generation of 5,000 MW. State is borrowing 3,000MW of electricity from neighboring states. Thereby state is facing 1,300 MW power supply at present, he explained.

Mr Eshwarappa said that the BJP government was committed to keep up his election promise of giving free power supply to the farmer who are using IP set of 10 HP and by this the State will have to bear additional burden of about Rs 850 crores.

He said that within next 15 days Bellary Thermal Power Plant with 500 MW capactiy will be dedicated to the nation, the 8th unit of Raichur Thermal Power plant of 250 MW would start functioning by September 2008. The Varaahi Power Project of 150MW capacity will be starts its work by 2009, he added.

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

He said that there is a 32 per cent power leakage in the state and it will be controlled in a phased manner.

UNI XR MSP TS1925