Expressing helplessness over the power crisis in the State, Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, on Monday, said measures will be taken to ensure that power supply to drinking water schemes, especially those in rural areas, will not be affected.
Speaking to presspersons after a meeting with HAL officials, Mr. Shivakumar said although the local bodies owe more than Rs. 3,000 crore to the Energy Department towards bills for power supply to their water supply schemes, the Escoms would give priority to these schemes. The Energy Department will execute the ongoing drinking water supply projects on the condition that local bodies will clear the dues, he said. The Chief Minister had reviewed the situation on Monday and a detailed plan of action for load-shedding in the State would be released in two days, he said.
The Chief Minister had advised him to ensure that whatever power was available, it should be shared equally throughout the State, he said.
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Mr. Shivakumar said the department had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with various companies to purchase around 700 MW of power. “We are already getting 450 MW at Rs. 5.08 per unit. We are trying to purchase an additional 200 MW from various sources,” he said.