From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Oct 1: Faced with a chronic shortage of power supply and the consequent frequent load-shedding and power cut, Karnataka will be buying more than 4000 MW power from other States and private producers to tide over the power crisis.
Karnataka has been facing shortage of 1800 MW a day.
The daily generation in the State is roughly 5900 MW against the demand for 7700 MW.
Already, electricity supply companies have been cutting power and resorting to load-shedding at frequent intervals for several hours in different times during the day in urban and rural areas.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday, Energy Minister D K Shivakumar said the State Government has earmarked Rs. 3,078 crore for purchase of power from independent power producers till May 2016.
A decision was taken to purchase 2,000 MW on long-term and 1000 MW on medium-term, he said.
The State has already purchasing 1113 MW from other states and private producers.
The State’s quota of power from the central grid. But the State has been receiving 200 MW from the Central grid so far.
Owing to depletion of water storage in hydel reservoirs, hydel power generation has been declined from 8435 million units a day in 2013 to 4314 million units in 2015, he said.
The Energy Department would go for bidding to buy electricity to tide over the power shortage owing to severe drought and deplete in water level in hydel reservoirs.
Only after entering into power purchase agreement (PPA), the Power Grid Corporation of India would ensure corridor to supply power to the State, he said.
A 10-year vision plan would be unveiled shortly and it would draw a road map for generation of power in the State.
By March 2016, the State would be in a position to generate 1150 MW of power that included 485 MW of wind, 487 MW of solar, 20 MW of biomass, 114 MW of cogeneration and 44 MW of hydro power, the minister said.
He requested the Centre to rush to the rescue of the State and ensure greater quota from the Central grid and also ensure supply of coal for generation from the thermal power plants.