Karnataka   

Karnataka to have MoU with Chhattisgarh on power generation, supply

BANGALORE: The State Government is set to enter into a long-term understanding with the Government of Chhattisgarh for not merely transferring surplus power from that State, but to also establish a major power plant there, thus marking a novel inter-State understanding.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh is in Bangalore undergoing naturopathy treatment. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had a lengthy discussion with him on Saturday and submitted a formal requisition letter for supply of 500 MW of power.

Sources in the State Government told The Hindu that the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, had promised that around 200 MW of electricity would be straightway made over to Karnataka from the coming week. Meanwhile, Karnataka had also sought an additional 290 MW from the unallocated power in the Central grid to the State following a severe shortage, they said.

Following discussions between the two chief ministers, talks have also commenced at the official level too. Sudhakar Rao, Chief Secretary, and K. Jairaj, Principal Secretary, Energy, are in touch with their counterparts in Raipur.

Mr. Yeddyurappa exuded confidence that the State would shortly come out of the power crisis. “With a spell of good rainfall and with electricity from Chattisgarh, people of the State will have some relief. Adequate funds will be made available by the State Government for purchase of power not merely from Chhattisgarh, but also from other States,” he said.

A high level official team is stated to be negotiating with the States of Orissa and Jharkhand apart from several private power producers, including the Jindal group. A team of officials has visited several northern States, including Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The State is facing a shortage of 1,600 MW (30 per cent of the energy demand) and the production is around 4,800 MW. With the water level in hydel reservoirs depleting, the situation is expected to turn for worse if the dry spell continues.

Mr. Yeddyurappa has written to Union Minister for Power Sushil Kumar Shinde over diversion of 50 MW of power from the southern grid to Andhra Pradesh.

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