The Hindu : Karnataka News : State invokes Act to tackle power crisis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 07, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka

State invokes Act to tackle power crisis

Special Correspondent

Power utilities directed to supply entire power to State

With this, State will procure an additional 500 MW of power
State needs 155 million units a day, supply is just 125 million units daily

Bangalore: The severe shortage of power has driven the State Government to invoke Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003, directing all power-generating stations to supply their entire power to the State.

Just recently, the Karnataka High Court had upheld the invoking of Section 11, which had earlier been challenged by a section of Independent Power Producers. This provision prevents private generators in the State from exporting power to other States. Explaining the move as a fall out of the ongoing power crisis in the State, the Government said that it had directed all private producers to supply power within the State.

K. Jairaj, Principal Secretary to the Energy Department, told The Hindu that the current demand for power in the State was 155 million units a day while the supply was 125 million units a day.

The Government's directive to all power stations would increase the power supply to 140 million units a day. With farmers requiring more water and power in April and May, the Energy Department has taken steps to ensure 12 hours power supply in rural areas (six hours three-phase and six hours single-phase), Mr. Jairaj said.

The Chief Minister, who also holds the Energy portfolio, told presspersons that he had held a detailed review with power sector officials on Monday and discussed the strategy to be adopted.

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

Karnataka