Belthangady: Despite the power minister’s eager claims in 2011 around Jan-Feb, the power shortage for the state has come through the back door and is pestering the helpless customers. All alternate energy sources as would warm the cackles of Dr.Farouk Abdullah, Union Minister in this regard have failed. In Karnataka, Bellary, Raichur and Udupi thermal power units are not running to full capacity and the 3rd unit of Kaiga Atomic power was shut down on Sunday under a hoax of smoke arising out of the machinery. Certain states that used to export power to Karnataka like Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are busy with elections or their own power problems. The Centre is not supplying over a 100MW power it is bound by agreement or award to do so. At5 such a time, Shobha Karandlaje is made to eat her words and come out with a reality that is not hopeful for summer night dreams. She said on April 11 in DK dt. that the state could not supply required power, even before spring has given way to a summer season.
It shows the lack of efficiency in her dept. and faith absent in her will to procure more power. She was inaugurating a Solar Power Rural Project providing solar energy to 150 rural families by Ujire Rotary Club and Selco Ltd., on Sunday at Ujire. Selco and MESCOM heads were present.
She pointed to the 1750 MW power from the Central grid in the country to overcome deficit in summer days. The state used to get over 1500 MG from the Grid but the supply is now reduced to 950 MW. There is an agreement with Chattisgarh (former MP) state for 2000MG power to be produced there. But the Centre did not supply coal and the state did not get the land, so there is delay, she explained.
Karnataka could produce only 5,300 MW but needed 8000MG of power. For an uninterrupted supply, about 12000 MG are needed. Self-sufficiency with Central support can come only by 2013, the minister told.
DK stands at the top in conservation and settlement of power bills, with only 13% loss in transit or thefts. CFL bulbs save 500MG of power, hence around 6crore such bulbs would be installed all over the state, Shobha added. She stated that Udupi power plant would not be closed, she told Nalin Kumar Kateelu, MP.