Under instructions from the Union Environment Ministry, the Karnataka Government has decided to undertake a survey to reduce the extent of forest land that would be utilised for the proposed Gundya Hydel power project by 50 per cent, from the existing 166 hectares.

The Union Minister for Forest, Mr Jairam Ramesh, has suggested that if the State brought down the extent of land by 50 per cent, the Government could consider the project for according environmental clearance, which has now been withheld.

Centre's nod awaited

Talking to reporters, the Minister for Energy, Ms Shobha Karandlaje, said that during her recent visit to Delhi she had called on Mr Jairam Ramesh to plead for environment clearance for the hydel project proposed in Gundya. The State plans to establish two units of 200 MW each capacity hydel plants to augment power generation, which currently faced power shortage.

The Centre was also deputing an expert team in advising the government over reducing the extent of forest land to be utilised for the project, the Minister said.

The Minister appealed to industries to cut down power consumption during peak hours as the demand for energy had touched to 168 to 169 million units daily as against the supply of 164 million units.

Two units of Raichur Thermal Power plant were down with technical snag today, Ms Karandlaje said.

No power purchase

The Government was not in a position to purchase power from neighbouring States, including Tamil Nadu, which is facing election and itself has been asking Karnataka to supply power to it.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW