State puts in place steps to buy power to meet any deficit

This comes after warning about a deficient monsoon

As of now, we have received good rain,says Shivakumar.

With the Centre sounding the warning bells on a deficient monsoon this year, the State’s Energy Department is putting in place measures to purchase power to meet any deficit.

Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar said at a press conference here on Saturday that Karnataka would purchase about 500 MW to 1,000 MW of power and keep it as reserve in case the Union government’s warning comes true. This is despite the hydel reserves having more water-levels than last year, he said.

“As of now, we have received good rain and there is 10 per cent more water than last year. But the Union government has given a warning of deficient monsoon, so we are taking precautionary measures,” Mr. Shivakumar said.

Tenders would be called soon for power purchase and the reserve power would be used only in case of poor rains after July, the Minister added.

In addition, sugar factories in the State equipped with cogeneration plants have been also been asked to supply power to the State grid instead of going to other States, such as Andhra Pradesh.

“The scope of power generation from this is around 600 MW,” Mr. Shivakumar said.