Bangalore, Oct 13 (DHNS): Energy Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday announced two hours' load-shedding every day with immediate effect all across Karnataka, and one hour in Bangalore.
A drop in power generation by thermal power stations in the State as well as in power-generation units owned by the Centre resulted in the move.
Shivakumar said the load-shedding was necessary in view of the gap of about 25 per cent between demand and supply.
Cyclone Hudhud has been blamed for the step. Anticipation of disaster has affected power supply, leading to a deficit and forcing the State to enforce load-shedding for about two hours in rural areas and one hour in Bangalore.
In some parts of Belgaum and Gulbarga, where there are reports of tampering with single-phase power supply, load-shedding has been imposed for about 14 hours.
Speaking to reporters after his visit to the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) in the City, Shivakumar described the situation as “grim”, and said “it is unfortunate that load-shedding is being imposed despite the State receiving good rainfall.”
He said the government was trying to brace for the crisis by purchasing 550 MW of power from private players within the State.
“We had called tenders for short-term power purchase from co-generation sectors, but since they quoted very high (prices), we had to withdraw them. We have now called for bids a second time. They will be opened on October 18,” he said. “This is the last option before them, with the attempt to procure power from outside having gone in vain.
“We have power purchase agreements with some northern states, which have surplus power. However, we have been unable to procure it due to non-availability of power transmission corridors,” he said.
Pointing to the SLDC figures, the minister said one unit each of the Raichur Thermal Power Station and the Bellary Thermal Power Station had stopped functioning, while the Udupi Power Corporation Limited was generating just 550 MW, as against its regular output of 1,000 MW.
Hydel-power stations, which are brimming with water, are generating to their full capacity. The State is getting over 5,000 MW.
He said the power was contributed by the hydel power stations to their full capacity and non-conventional energy sources contributing 898 MW. “We are getting 1,338 MW of power from the Centre, when we should be getting more than 3,800 MW,” he added.