The State Government on Monday submitted to the Karnataka High Court that it was facing a severe shortage of power and that it planned to purchase 1,000 MW of energy this month to make up for the shortfall.
The State made this admission in the statement of objections filed in relation to a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by an advocate from Bangalore, G.R. Mohan.
Mr. Mohan had sought a direction to the State and the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL) to ensure uninterrupted and adequate supply of power when examinations were going on. He said that students were being put to severe hardships owing to irregular power supply.
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The State said that 1,000 MW of power which would be purchased this month would only address the deficit during this month. The State was planning to import 750 MW of power from April to August.
It said power generation plants had been proposed in Udupi, Bellary, Yeramarus (Raichur) and Bidadi, Kudgi, and in Chhittasgarh. In 2008-09, the State added 1,252 MW of power to the grid. During 2009-10, it proposed to add 1,300 MW of power.
It said that the demand for power in 2007-08 was 46,339 mu as against availability of 40,121 mu, in 2008-09 it was 47,124 mu as against 42,199 mu and in 2009-10 the demand was 51,019 mu as against the availability of 44,549 mu.
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Increase in demand
The State said that the shortage was owing to increase in demand for power and not because of power theft and mismanagement, as alleged by the petitioner.
On power theft, it said that during 2008-09, the electricity authorities inspected 3,04,542 installations and booked 39,889 cases and imposed a penalty amounting to Rs. 55.53 crore. During the current year, 5,82,062 installations were inspected, 88,242 cases booked and fines amounting to Rs. 115 crore were imposed.
The State said KPTCL had 31 generating stations with a gross capacity of 5,479.89 MW. There were two major IPPS generating 109.6 MW of power, 36 cogeneration plants with capacity of 685.44 MW, 12 biomass units with 98.8 MW capacity and 53 mini-hydel projects with a capacity of 471.47 MW. It said that there were 462 wind generating stations contributing 462 MW of power to the State grid.
A Division Bench, comprising Justice V. Gopala Gowda and Justice B.S. Patil, adjourned further hearing of the case.