Minister for Energy D.K. Shivakumar on Friday said the Energy Department will not resort to power cuts as the State would “manage” with available resources, and only technical glitches can cause disruptions in supply.
Speaking to presspersons here after visiting the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) office here on Friday, Mr. Shivakumar said the Bayaluseeme region had not received enough rain and a few rivers were yet to fill up, while the Krishna was full.
Wind energy
The State has enough power generated through wind energy and was also set to receive 234 MW from the Jurala Hydro Power project on alternate weeks (with Andhra Pradesh receiving power the other week) from next Tuesday. “There is about 10 per cent shortage, and we have called for tenders for power purchase,” he said. About 350 MW from a gas-based plant, set to come up in Yelahanka, is also in the offing.
Mr. Shivakumar blamed the previous Bharatiya Janata Party government for the pending reimbursements to the Electricity Supply Companies (Escoms) towards supplying free electricity to farmers. Admitting that nearly Rs. 11,000 crore had to be paid to Escoms, he said the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department alone owed Rs. 3,000 crore, which will be remitted to the gram panchayats.
(The Hindu)
