Anticipating the peak load to increase from 8,500 MW to anywhere between 9,500 MW and 10,500 MW during the festive season next month, the State government has decided to purchase 1,000 MW of power. A tender has been floated, said Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Mr. Shivakumar said the tender, which was floated with permission from Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission, will be finalised in the next 15 days.
Of the 1,000 MW, around 500 MW will be purchased from southern States and the remaining from other parts of India. Currently, the peak load has come down to around 8,500 MW owing to good rains, reducing the use of irrigation pumpsets, he said.
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Pointing out that work on various schemes was progressing, the Minister said officials have been directed to ensure that all work is completed by December. The Belaku Grama scheme has been taken up in 946 villages in 187 Assembly constituencies. Twenty-eight subdivisions in the city are being upgraded in the first phase of the Model Subdivision Scheme, where overhead cables will be replaced by underground cables, five-star distribution transformers and smart meters will be installed.
Mr. Shivakumar said 222 towns with population of more than 5,000 had been chosen for the Integrated Power Distribution System. Rooftop projects will be taken up in all government buildings at ₹66 crore. In 124 towns with population over 15,000, IT-enabled services such as GIS mapping, online billing and other consumer services will be provided. This is being done at a cost of ₹103 crore, he said.
Under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Jyothi Yojana, 30 villages are yet to get electricity. The scheme envisages providing LED streetlights, and new feeders to the villages. As many as 7.57 lakh BPL households will be provided with electricity at ₹228.16 crore. Each household will get six bulbs and required infrastructure.
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When asked about ensuring that local bodies switching to LED streetlights, Mr. Shivakumar said a policy has been drafted by the Energy Department. “We have sent the policy proposal to the Urban Development Department. It will have to be be approved by the Cabinet,” he added.