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Our Bureau

Bangalore, July 20

Power-hungry Karnataka has turned to Chattisgarh to meet its energy requirement. It plans to set up its own 2,000 MW pithead thermal power plant in Janjgir district and has also sought 500 MW of power from that State.

A team led by the Managing Director of the Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd recently surveyed the prospective site at Godhna.

The Chief Minister, Mr B.S.Yeddyurappa, has written to his Chattisgarh counterpart, Dr Raman Singh, seeking speedy allocation of 2,000 acres at Godhna. The site is well-connected by road and rail and gets water from the Mahanadi, the letter released to the media here said.

Citing “the acute and critical power shortage” in the State, Mr Yeddyurappa said, “I also request your timely assistance for water allocation from (the) Mahanadi as well as early clearance of (the) State Pollution Control Board. Most importantly as Member-State in the Coal Allocation Committee of the Government of India, your help for obtaining coal linkage from the South Eastern Coalfields would be essential for our success,” the letter said.

He also met Dr Raman Singh, who is undergoing treatment at a Bangalore nature cure hospital, and formally requested 500 MW of power – to which Dr Singh has reportedly promised 200 MW. Mr Yeddyurappa said his Government is keen on joint development with Chattisgarh in other fields also.

In yet another letter addressed to the Union Power Minister, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde, Mr Yeddyurappa has protested the reduction of Karnataka’s unallocated share by 50 MW between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.; the same quantum has been transferred to Andhra Pradesh.

The unallocated quota should be immediately restored to 290 MW, the Chief Minister said, adding the State’s officers had made a similar request to the Power Secretary.

“Our power level in the reservoirs is about 1,800 mu compared to nearly 5,000 mu last year. Our daily consumption has exceeded 116 mu. We are forced to do load shedding as a result,” the letter to Mr Shinde said.

Karnataka, in the midst of failed monsoons, is set for formal power cuts. It is estimated to generate 4,800 MW of power but has a deficit of nearly 30 per cent or 1,600 MW against the demand.

More Stories on : Power | Karnataka

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Karnataka budget based on 5% inflation rate

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