Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar reiterated that there will no be load-shedding this year as the government has arranged adequate power to meet the demand.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of the mini Vidhana Soudha here on Saturday, Mr. Shivakumar said the working of the Udupi Power Corporation Ltd.’s thermal plant had been restored and they would “manage” the power requirement without resorting to load-shedding.
The Minister said they would add about 3,000 MW of power including from renewable energy and thermal power sources. The government has allocated Rs. 12,500 crore in the new budget for the department’s initiatives, he added.
Mr. Shivakumar said measures were being taken to conserve power. The Energy Department was working with the Urban Development department in making city corporations use LED street-lighting. In the second phase of the drive, it would be extended to all City Municipal Corporations.
The Minister said the State government had assured the department of clearance of Rs. 3,000 crore pending from the gram panchayats for the last few years.
