Monsoon deficient but there won't be power cuts: minister

Energy Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said that despite insufficient rainfall in Karnataka, the state government would take steps to ensure there was no power disruption in the coming months.

Speaking to journalists here, he said the southwest monsoon had been deficient so far and there had been inadequate inflow into the reservoirs. Water levels in most of the reservoirs attached to hydroelectric stations are still low. “We will come out with an action plan to ensure adequate power is supplied to households, industries and farmers,” he said. The total demand for power in Karnataka is around 9,000 MW, he said.

He said a decision was taken in this regard after reviewing the demand and supply and assessing future needs. According to Shivakumar, the Centre has stopped supplying LED bulbs at subsidised rates. “This is not our decision. If the Centre continues the supplies, we will distribute the bulbs to consumers,” he said.

Shivakumar said he had raised the issue of supply of coal for thermal plants in Karnataka during his recent interaction with Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal. The latter gave an assurance that Karnataka will be allotted coal blocks in Chhattisgarh.

“Since the department has promised that there will be no power cuts, there is no other alternative but to purchase power. Tenders will be floated immediately to purchase power for nine months from September. We cannot say anything of the energy storage for the future now itself as it is only mid-July. At present, there is surplus. But water storage in hydel reservoirs is much below the capacity,” he said.

He added that at present, the demand was 8,710 MW against the availability of 9,375 MW. But hydel resources are just 25% of their capacity and that will not be sufficient for the future. Last year, the department had purchased power at Rs 4.08 per unit and the department will try to procure power at the same rate this year too, he said.

Earlier, British Deputy High Commissioner to India Dominic McAllister called on Shivakumar. The minister said Britain had evinced interest to finance the manufacture of smart meters. Smart meters, introduced in Mysuru on a pilot basis, will be extended to all districts soon, he said.