Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jul 21: Speaking after participating in the 39th founding day celebrations of Karnataka Power Corporation, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa admitted that the state is facing bleak power situation. Assuring that the state government is prepared to tide over the situation caused by tripping of thermal power plant units at Raichur, poor coal supplies and scant monsoon rains, he asserted that no efforts would be spared in easing the situation by trying to buy as much power from other states as possible, irrespective of cost involved. The state government is set to sign a power purchase agreement with the Chattisgarh government, for a minimum supply of 300 mega watts (mw) of power, to tide over the crisis, he explained.

The deal would be finalized after having detailed discussions with Raman Singh, chief minister of that state, on July 24 and in all probability, the deal will be signed the next day. The state is pressing for supply of 500 mw of power from Chattisgarh, he added.

The state is in dialogue with Chattisgarh government for setting up of a thermal power plant there, having 2,000 mw capacity. Load-shedding will continue to be enforced in the state till the situation improves, Yeddyurappa said. "If the catchment areas of reservoirs where hydel power plants have been set up get rain, we can vastly improve upon the situation," he said.

He blamed the previous governments for not giving importance to power generation. He also strongly justified the government's decision of installing metres to all the irrigation pumpsets, a move which is being criticized by the congress, clarifying that this was required to estimate actual transmission loss of power. At present, the entire transmission loss is being assigned to irrigation pumpsets, he divulged.