The Hindu : New Delhi News : State approaches Centre for additional power

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 24, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

State approaches Centre for additional power

Sujay Mehdudia

Daily consumption has exceeded 118 million units

Energy availability is a fourth of the position that obtained last year, says Karnataka
Power Minister urged to augment State’s share to 2,000 MW

NEW DELHI: Faced with one of the worst power crises in recent times, Karnataka and Kerala have petitioned the Union Government to increase their quota from the Central pool.“I have received representations from the Karnataka and Kerala governments seeking assistance of the Union Power Ministry to get over the power crisis that has occurred due to poor monsoon that has led to a sharp fall of water in dams and reservoirs affecting generation of power. We are looking at the situation sympathetically and would certainly try and help these States to meet the power demand,” Union Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh said here on Wednesday.

The Karnataka Government has said that the energy availability was a fourth of the position that obtained last year. Daily consumption was at an all-time high and exceeded 118 million units compared to 85 mu last year.

In fact, Karnataka stated that its share in the Central Generating Station in the Southern region should be enhanced. It said that the State’s share of the Central Generating Station was only 1,542 MW compared to 3,173 MW of Tamil Nadu and 2,954 MW of Andhra Pradesh.

“The Karnataka Government has urged the Union Power Ministry to augment its share from 1,542 MW to 2000 MW with immediate effect,” Mr. Jairam said.

The Minister said Kerala Electricity Minister A.K. Balan had also sought increased share from the Central allocation as well as from the unallocated quota.

Mr. Balan stated that due to failure of monsoon, the State was faced with a power deficit of around 400 MW.

“Our Central allocation has been 1,041 MW, of which we are getting only below 700 MW. This means a deficit of more than 50 per cent of the Central allocation. Our unallocated share of power has also been drastically reduced to a meagre 29 MW instead of 180 MW. If the share of the State is restored we will be in a position to manage the present crisis without any hardship to the public at large,” he stated.

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

New Delhi