Beltangady: Come September, 600 MW Electricity from UPCL : Shobha

Daijiworld Media Network—Beltangady (RD/CN)

Beltangady, Apr 10: “The state has been finding it difficult to supply electricity needed to meet the rising demand and arrangements will be made to add 1,500 mega watts of additional electricity to the main grid of the state by September 2011,” said energy minister Shobha Karandlaje.

She was speaking at a function held to distribute solar lights provided by Beltangady Rotary Club to 150 houses during a function held at Sharada Mantap, Ujire, on Sunday April 10.

“The state’s main grid will be supplied 1,500 mega watts, with 600 mega watts from the second thermal power plant of UPCL, 500 mega watts from Bellary unit, and a total of 500 mega watts generated by the unconventional energy sources and mini-hydel power plants by the end of September 2011,” said Karandlaje.

Minister Shobha Karandlaje unfolds state’s energy needs:

“The state needs 8,000 mega watts of electricity.  If it intends to supply electricity for 24 hours, then the total needs will go up to 12,000 mega watts.  The state has a history of over a century in generating electricity.  Despite this fact, electricity is not generated to meet growing demand.  It’s just 5,300 mega watts.  Electricity amounting to 500 mega watts is bought from private enterprises.  Unconventional sources of energy contribute 450 mega watts and 150 mega watts electricity is bought from Gulbarga.  The electricity shortage is affecting the entire country, hence it’s difficult to get supply from other states.  Although the union government is supposed to supply 1,750 mega watts of electricity from the central grid daily and had offered assurances of supplying 1,534 mega watts, it has been supplying only 950 mega watts so far,” she added.

Injustice by union government:

“The state planned to achieve self-sufficiency in electricity within two years.  It also bought land to set up a coal-based thermal power plant with a capacity to generate 2,000 mega watts in Chattisgarh, but the union government has not been supplying coal to thermal power plants in Karnataka as well as Chattisgarh,” alleged Karandlaje. 

She also said that despite her taking up the issue with the union minister, nothing has been achieved.  Over Rs 3,400 crore is spent on installing transformers and laying high tension cables over the towers in 2010.  “There are nearly 18 lac authorized pumpsets and 1.75 lac unauthorized ones and urged those with unauthorized electricity connection are requested to convert them into authorized connections by September 31, 2011,” urged the minister.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, in his presidential address, said that the Rotary Club has been doing the job of opening the eyes of the government and urged Karandlaje to supply the essential electrical equipment to the district.

Rotary assistant governor Divakar Nidwannaya, Jayaram Kotian of solar energy project, Selco Solar director K M Udupa, and Mescom chief operating officer Sumant were the chief guests on the occasion.

The solar lights were installed at 150 houses in various villages across Beltangady under the leadership of the Rotary Club jointly by Selco Solar and Syndicate Bank.  CFL bulbs were also distributed by the Rotary Club on the same occasion. 
Rotary Club president Pratapsimha Nayak welcomed the gathering.  Secretary Jayaram proposed the vote of thanks.  Lecturer Dr A Jayakumar Shetty compered the programme.