BJP Govt mishandled power situation: JD(S) leader

Bangalore, Nov 21 (UNI) Blaming the ruling BJP government in Karnataka for its failure to tackle the power crisis, Janata Dal(Secular) leader H D Revanna today charged the government with pushing the state to 'dark age.' Talking to newspersons here, he alleged that Karnataka was reeling under 'darkness' following mishandling of the power situation, worse than the situation compared to Krishna Government in the past, which had witnessed fours years of drought in succession.

Demanding that the BJP government tender a 'Public apology' for the present power situation due to its 'blurred vision,' the former Energy Minister claimed that during his regime, he had taken all steps not to impose any 'power shutdown' and maintained it.

Refuting the allegations of Power Minister K S Eswarappa that the previous government follies had led to the present power problem, Mr Revanna strongly denied and said after consulting experts in the power sector, his government had prepared a road map to meet the power demand for the next 20 years in 2005.

'An action plan was prepared to generate more than 23,000 MW of power by 2020 and the present government should go through it,'' he said.

The 500 MW Bellary thermal power station, 230 MW Varahi II stage, and 1,000 MW Nagarjuna thermal power projects were sanctioned during his period, Mr Revanna claimed.

Accusing the BJP of blocking all major power prokects, including the Rs 2,000 crore Cogentrix, Nagarjuna, Chamalapura and Tadadi in Karnataka, while in Opposition, he said ''The BJP government is pushing these projects after coming to power now.'' UNI MV ROY AKJ BD1515