Shobha holds her 'last' press meet as energy minister
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jan 22: The lone woman minister in Karnataka’s Jagadish Shettar-led BJP Government and a trusted confidant of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is presently heading his own KJP outfit, virtually bade ''goodbye” to the all ''power”ful Energy Department held by her, when she addressed a crowded press conference in her official chambers in Vidhana Soudha, and confessed that it ''might be her last press meet as the Energy Minister.”
A PTI report stated that Shobha Karandlaje has decided to quit the BJP ministry tomorrow. "I am proud and have satisfaction of performing well during my tenure as Energy Minster in the last two and a half years. I am leaving the Department. It is my last day, hopefully, in office", Shobha told reporters.
She, however, declined to answer any questions on politics or spell out whether or when she is quitting the Shettar ministry as well as the ruling BJP and the date of her joining Yeddyurappa-led KJP.
“The Energy Department to me is like my family. I am feeling very bad,” she said while listing her Department’s during her tenure as a minister and said ''today’s press conference might be her last press meet in the BJP Government headed by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar.”
''I am feeling very bad,” she said while stubbornly refusing to answer any questions relating to present fluid political situation in the State.
''There are no issues in the Department or reasons to feel unhappy. All engineers have done a remarkable job. Hat’s off to them (officials),” she said and openly acknowledged the cooperation from all officials and staff from the Department.
Karadlaje, who declined to reveal her next political moves in the press meet, said: “I will not discuss any political issues now.”
Asked about the political party she would be joining and the constituency she would be contesting in the next Assembly elections, the Minister said: “I will speak to you (journalists) all those issues in the next few days. No politics here, please.”
''Karnataka’s Power Position Very Comfortable”
The minister said Karnataka’s power situation was ''very comfortable” and asserted that the State will not experience any load-shedding in coming summer months this year.
Adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure that there would be no load shedding in the coming summer season, she said disclosing that the Department had made sufficient arrangements in advance to purchase a total of 1280 MW of power from Gujarat and private power producers daily to ease the shortage in power generation in the State.
Sufficient water storage has been maintained in reservoirs to generate hydel power in the next four months.
The State Government purchased 1000 MW daily during the last summer months, she said.
The State Government has spent Rs 12,000 crore on improving power transmission system, which helped in reducing transmission and distribution losses from 23 per cent to 20 per cent.
A total of Rs 9,000 crore had been spent to purchase power in the last four and half years.
''I am satisfied and proud of performing well”
“I am proud and have satisfaction of performing well during my tenure as Energy Minster in the last two and a half years. I am leaving the Department,” said Shobha, who had dropped hints at resigning from the ministry and also BJP to join KJP ahead of the Assembly polls.
Outlining the achievements of the BJP government in the energy sector, she said the State has consumed 173.94 million units (MU) on January 22, 2013, and the State has been producing 31.40 MU of hydel,50.21 million units of thermal, 21.52 units by Udupi Power Corporation Limited and 6.94 MU from wind sources.
During the last four and half years, the minister said 4,593 MW has been added to the state’s grid.
Kudligi super thermal power with 4,000 mw capacity, Edlapur (800 MW), Ermarus (1600 MW), Bidadi (700 MW), Bellary Thermal Power station (700 MW) and 4000 MW Chattisgarh plant are in the pipeline, she said.
''Karnataka Will Become Power Surplus, Sell Power”
''When all these projects are completed, Karnataka will become not only a power surplus but would be in a position to sell energy to neighbouring states,” Karandlaje claimed.
Karandlaje is reported to be considering quitting the Shettar ministry and also the ruling BJP along with her assembly membership from Yeshwanthpur constituency along with her senior cabinet colleague and State Public Works Minister C M Udasi in the next few days and formally join KJP ahead of the ensuing budget session of the State Legislature commencing from February 4.
A few other ministers, who are staunch loyalists of Yeddyurappa, are also likely to resign their ministerial positions and quit the ruling party.