Yermarus Thermal Power Station (YTPS), a two-unit power station with an installed capacity of 1,600 MW (2X800), was dedicated to the State on Tuesday by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The power plant, built on Supercritical Technology, is technically owned by Raichur Power Corporation Ltd (RPCL), a joint venture of Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd., and Industrial Finance Corporation of India.
Addressing a gathering at the district stadium on Tuesday after the dedication, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar claimed that the power station was an important capacity addition to KPCL in its attempt to meet State’s energy requirements.
“The previous BJP-led government in the State had laid down the foundation stone to the project and forgot about it. It is our government that provided ₹13,250 crore to complete the two-unit power station that has an installed capacity of 1,600 MW,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.
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Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, earlier, claimed that Karnataka had become an energy-sufficient State that managed to effectively cater to State’s energy needs even during the hydropower crisis caused by poor rainfall last year.
“Thanks to consecutive monsoon failures, our reservoir did not receive a sufficient inflow of water. The scarcity of dams adversely affected hydroelectricity generation last year. Yet, our thermal stations performed well to fill the gaps. Even in such critical times, we kept our word and provided free electricity to farmers’ irrigation pumpsets,” he said. He also announced that his government would provide free power to irrigation pump-sets for 12 hours a day in one stretch during daytime instead fragmented periods spreading day and night.
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Mr. Shivakumar said that his government had taken a decision to properly rehabilitate as many as 3,000 families that have been living on KPCL’s land. “We have decided to get good houses built for those who are living on KPLC’s land,” he said.