Bangalore: The State Government has approved the proposal of Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL) to prepare a detailed project report on establishing six thermal power stations to produce 4,000 MW of energy at an investment of Rs. 17,000 crore.

These projects were proposed to be implemented in four years, Energy and Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna told presspersons here on Friday.

KPCL would build 1,000-MW plants in Bijapur and Hassan districts and 500-MW plants in Raichur, Gulbarga, Mysore and Belgaum districts, he said.

Work on the 500-MW second unit of the Bellary Thermal Power Station and the 250-MW eighth unit of the Raichur Thermal Power Station would be launched in about a month's time, he said, adding that there were plans to begin work on the ninth and 10th units.

In order to bring down distribution losses, stations would be set up across the State to cater for local distribution needs, he said.

A power purchase agreement had been signed with Nagarjuna Power, near Mangalore, for 1,015 MW. The 4,000-MW thermal power project at Tadari, near Karwar, was very much on the cards, Mr. Revanna said.

He said purchasing power from independent producers was working out to be economical, with savings of at least Rs. 500 crore. However, there was some tardiness in the recovery of dues from farmers and panchayats. Out of Rs. 1,450 crore due to the Government in revenue, Rs. 750 crore had to come from farmers using irrigation pumpsets, who received power at 40 paise for a unit. The Government bought power at Rs. 3 a unit to subsidise consumption by irrigation pumpsets, he said.

Capital grant sought

The Energy Department had sought a capital grant of Rs. 500 crore for 2006-07 for Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. and Chamundeswari, Hubli and Gulbarga electricity supply companies, he said.

The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission had approved a Rs. 1,755-crore system improvement programme for the current year for KPTCL.

The highlights for the current year include an investment of Rs. 882 crore to improve the transmission and distribution network.

Under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameena Vidyut Yojana, the Centre has sanctioned Rs. 375 crore for 17 districts.

By June-end, 47 villages, 304 hamlets, 859 dalit bastis, tandas and Janata colonies and 51, 020 households were electrified.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail