From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 22: Even as the heat of summer starting to scorch in different parts of Karnataka, especially in coastal Karnataka, which has already hit record levels in the last few days, the State is staring at a severe power crisis with a chronic shortage of nearly 2500 mw a day already.
The situation is bound to worsen in the coming months, especially after the major fire accident that has virtually halted power generation at the Sharavathy generating station, near Jog-Kargal in the malnad Shivamogga district, which contributed roughly 1,035 mw power daily to the State grid.
A State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday deliberated at length the demand and supply for power in the State and directed Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav and Energy Minister D K Shivakumar to explore all alternative avenues to bridge the demand supply gap, which ranges from 1000 mw to 2500 mw during the peak summer.
The threat of long hours of load shedding is almost certain to return to the State in March, April and May months, according to official sources in the State Secretariat.
While the demand for power in March is 10,026 mw against the availability of 9,218 mw.
In April, the demand for electricity is expected to jump to 10,453 mw as against the supply at barely 9762 mw.
It would be impossible for providing three phase power for irrigation pumpsets and industries between 7am to 9am.
The situation would also be grim during the evening peak hours, sources added.
"It is expected to take at least 4 to 5 months to restore power generation at Sharavati generating station. The scope for procuring power in a big way from outside it also limited due to constraints in availability of grid. The Chief Minister has instructed the authorities to explore all options to tackle the challenge," official sources said.
Though the hours of load shedding was not deliberated specifically, the people would have to be ready to face some hardship considering the situation and accidental fire accident at Sharavati, sources said.
A few days ago, Energy minister D K Shivakumar announced that BESCOM has lifted the staggering holidays from February 6 consequent to relaxing of restriction on hydro generation, improvement in state and central thermal power generation and revival of 1000 mw at Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.
But the situation changed in last few days owing to accidental fire at Sharavathy sources said.