As the fear of a power drought looms large, Karnataka’s power sector appears to be literally looking at the skies with fingers crossed with Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar set to offer prayers for rain.
According to an official communication, Mr. Shivakumar will visit Kigga near Sringeri on Monday to offer prayers at the temple of Sage Rishyashrunga. He had earlier visited the same temple on July 6 in 2014 when the State reeled under prolonged dry spell.
The Minister’s plan to make an “official trip” to the temple has amused energy experts. “The Minister should rather focus on improving the demand-side management of power supply to conserve energy through increasing the efficiency,” observed an expert, who did not wish to be quoted.
There is a dire need for evolving long and medium-term plans to manage the State power sector, instead of pressing the panic button and talking about purchasing high-cost short-term power that will increase financial burden on the Escoms, another energy expert felt. Presently, the State is facing an energy crisis due to deficient monsoon, which has resulted in poor storage in all three major hydel reservoirs of Mani, Supa and Linganamakki. The present storage level is said to be the poorest in the last several years.
Normally the monsoon season, which witnesses good inflow into the hydel reservoirs, is used by thermal power stations to put their generating units through the nearly month-long maintenance drill — which is necessary once a year. But poor hydel storage and prolonged dry spell are affecting the maintenance schedule of the thermal units. What has complicated the matters this time is that some of the thermal generating units have temporarily stopped generation due to a technical snag.
The State is witnessing a shortage of about 1,500 MW. Following this, unscheduled load-shedding is being enforced in some of the areas as and when the demand for power exceeds their allocated share.
