Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Oct 28: While the state is reeling under frequent power cuts, energy minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday October 28 promised to provide sufficient power supply to the state within the next 1.4 years.

"Without depending on anyone, the entire state will get sufficient electricity within 1.4 years," he said.

He was speaking after inaugurating the newly-built ‘Swarna Soudha’ at Kavoor, a regional center of the Karnataka Electricity Board Engineers’ Association, marking the golden jubilee of the Association.

Shivakumar said, "In the coming days, the undivided districts of Mangalore and Udupi will get 24-hour electricity. The government is active in implementing the programme."

Speaking about UPCL and its reported acquisition, the minister said, "A company has come forward to purchase UPCL and within 15 days this will be implemented after a meeting. Soon, within a week of the company being purchased, the department and the government will make the company fulfill all the assurances given to the people."

Without naming the ultra mega thermal power project at Niddodi, Shivakumar said, "The government has spent Rs 1 per unit on coal transportation. If the plant is established near the sea, it will reduce the transportation charge. We will not implement any project forcibly but if the representatives and the people agree voluntarily, we will continue with the project after taking people's views into consideration."

On the recruitment of linemen, Shivakumar said, "We will fill all vacant posts within five months."

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "Nidoddi is an agricultural land. Even in Udupi, NTPC has created problems and failed to preserve transparency in environnmental impact. People have lost faith in all of the projects; hence, Nidoddi power project should be dropped. I will help in this cause through the central government," he added.

Mayor Mahabala Maarla and MLA Mohiuddin Bava also spoke on the occasion.

DK district incharge minister B Ramanath Rai, Venkatashiva Reddy, president, Karnataka Electricity Board Engineers’ Association, P Ravi Kumar, additional chief secretary of power department, Kumar Nayak, and Chikka Nanjappa, managing director of Mescom, were present.