Daijiworld Media Network – Shimoga (SP)

Shimoga, Jan 8:  Addressing a press conference here on Friday January 7, energy minister, Shobha Karandlaje, clarified that she had said during the zilla and taluk panchayat elections that the power tariff hike had been temporarily put off, and not altogether cancelled. She added that it has become imminent now for the government to effect power tariff hike.

“As the summer is progressing, demand for power is going up. On Thursday, there was demand for 156 million units, the highest ever in the state’s history, and we met this demand. The demand may go up to 160 million units in summer. We are making advance preparations to ensure that power supply during the summer months does not get unduly affected. We have augmented power production in the state,” she said.

Justifying the power tariff hike proposal, she said that the electricity distribution companies are in financial crunch, having been in the red to the extent of Rs 5,000 crore. “For their survival, price rise has become unavoidable. At the same time, there is 50% shortage of linemen, and a proposal has been put up to the finance department to fill 25% vacancies,” she added.