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The Karnataka Power Minister, Ms Shobha Karandlaje, has said the Centre is not allocating power due for the State based on the Gadgil formula, and she has also asked the Centre not to delay allocation of coal blocks to Karnataka for its proposed power plant in Chhattisgarh.
Speaking at a function to launch solar village programme at Ujire in Dakshina Kannada district on Sunday, she said that the Gadgil formula to determine power allocation stipulates 1,750 MW of power to State from the Centre. However, it was agreed to supply 1,534 MW of power from the Centre to State. However, the State is getting only 950 MW of power from the Centre.
To tide over the power crisis in the State, the Karnataka Government is planning to set up a 2,000-MW thermal power plant in Chhattisgarh. Though the State is in the process of providing all necessary help required for the establishment of the plant, the Central Government is delaying the allotment of coal blocks to that plant, she said, and urged the Centre to allot coal block to that plant at the earliest.
Supply-demand gap
Ms Karandlaje said that the Government is planning to add around 1,500 MW of power to the State grid by December-end. Of this, the State is planning to get 600 MW of power from Udupi Power Corporation Ltd, 500 MW from the second unit of Bellary thermal power station and another 500 MW from other sources such as windmills and mini-hydel power projects.
Stating that there is a demand of 8,000 MW of power in the State, she said the State is producing around 5,300 MW as of now.
Speaking on connections to irrigation pumpsets, she said the State has around 18 lakh legal connections and another 1.75 lakh illegal connections. Steps will be taken to regularise illegal connections by September 31. This will help improve power supply to irrigation purpose also, she said.
Power saving measures
Later in an informal chat with presspersons, Ms Karandlaje said that the State has initiated steps to replace incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs. If implemented properly, this will help save around 500 MW of power in the State.
The demand for CFL bulbs will be in the range of around six-seven crores. To meet this demand, the escoms (electricity supply companies) in the State are calling for tenders to supply CFL bulbs from the recognised companies, she added.
Earlier, Ms Karandlaje handed over warranty cards of solar lighting units to villagers in Belthangady taluk. Rotary Club of Belthangady, in association with Selco Solar company, is installing solar lights in 150 houses in remote villages of Belthangady taluk.
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