Bangalore: Brace up for Power Tariff Hike, Power Cuts, Load Shedding

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Sep 26: Even as the Energy Supply Companies in the State are eagerly awaiting the Karnataka Power Regulatory Commission’s orders on their demand for enhancement of power tariff hike in the State, Karnataka’s Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje has indicated that the people will have to live with frequent disruptions in power supply and even power cuts in both the urban and rural areas.

Talking to reporters in Bangalore on Monday, the Minister said load shedding in the rural and urban areas would be inevitable on account of the disruptions in the supply of coal to thermal plants in Raichur and Bellary due to the ongoing agitation on the Telangana issue in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Reduced power supply to the State from the Central grid was another reason for the precarious power supply position and the consequent disruptions in the distribution, she said.

Answering questions, she said a decision on hiking power tariff would be taken only after the KERC issues its orders. The matter will have to be discussed in the State Cabinet, she said.

With the shortfall of 1500 MW per day in power generation and availability, the State Government will be left with no alternative but to announce the timings of load-shedding both rural and urban areas in the near future, the Minister said.

The continued pro-Telengana stir in Andhra Pradesh has badly affected the movement of coal to the State power plants from Singareni and Nagpur.

Blockade of movement of rail wagons by pro-Telengana supporters caused shortage of supply of coal to power generation at power plants in Raichur and Bellary.

Karandlaje said load-shedding in rural and urban areas of the State has become inevitable until Telangana issue was solved. Movement of coal in rail wagons from Singareni and Nagpur has been disrupted following agitation in Telangana.

Shortage in the supply of coal has reduced power generation in Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) units.

“We have a stock of 1.80 lakh tonnes of coal and it is sufficient to generate power for 12 days for five units,” she said explaining that the eight units of RTPS required 15,000 tonnes each of coal per day.

She said power supply from the central power grid at Ramagundam in Andhra Pradesh too affected the power supply in the State.

Instead of 1500 MW, the State used to get 1200 MW and now the quantum has come down to barely 900 MW, she said.

Tenders would be invited soon to purchase 500 MW, she said adding that tenders have already been called to buy 300 MW per day to supply power during peak hours (7 am to 10 am and 7 pm to 10 pm) in October and November.

On the future plans, Karandlaje said a second unit of Bellary power plant (500 MW) would become operational in February 2012.

Ration Cards to APL, BPL Families after Dasara

Karandlaje, who is also in charge of Food and Civil Supplies, said the State Government will issue ration cards for above poverty and below poverty line after Dasara festival.

The Department has suspended issuing of fresh ration cards to APL and BPL families for the last six months.

The Minister said the department has received 10 lakh applications seeking APL and BPL ration cards.

The department has conducted an excise to identify ineligible ration cards in rural and urban areas of the State and has so far detected over 18 lakh fake ration cards in urban areas, she said.

To prevent misuse of subsidy meant for the poor, the department decided to detect bogus ration cards. Arrangement would also be made to submit online applications, she said

The Minister said 32.32 lakh illegal domestic LPG gas connections have been detected. After a thorough inquiry, LPG distributors and oil companies had been asked to suspend supplies of LPG cylinders to consumers, who had taken connections through illegal means.