Karnataka, which has been facing a power shortage for the past two years, will have four new gas-based power projects along the route of the Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline being executed by Gas Authority of India Ltd.
The State Cabinet, which met here on Thursday, approved the projects, apart from a high-speed rail link to Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli and a monorail that would be connected to the Namma Metro rail network. The Metro network would be extended to new areas, including Kengeri on the western outskirts of Bangalore.
Briefing presspersons on the Cabinet decisions, Home Minister V.S. Acharya and Law Minister S. Suresh Kumar said three of the power projects — 700 MW each — would come up at Hukkeri in Belgaum district, Mundargi in Dharwad district and Harapanahalli in Davangere district in the private sector.
A 2,000-MW gas-based project at Bidadi to be executed by Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd was approved. Each of these projects would require around 300 acres. Construction of the gas pipeline was expected to be completed by 2012.
The purchase of 700 MW of electricity on a short-term basis from cogeneration units (200 MW) and from Jindal Power (500 MW) was given the go-ahead. While the cogeneration units would be paid Rs. 5 a unit, Jindal would be paid Rs. 6.50 a unit, and this short-term contract was valid until May 31.
The State has been purchasing nearly 1,000 MW over the past two months to tide over the shortage, and the recent rainfall in the southern districts has come as a relief to the authorities.
A monorail project and a high-speed rail link for Bangalore was approved. The high-speed rail link to the international airport from the Parade Ground on Mahatma Gandhi Road would be via Hebbal and Yelahanka.
The Cabinet would stand guarantee for a Rs. 1,000-crore loan for the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike meant mainly to widen some of the arterial roads.
The National Highway 4 between Hubli and Dharwad (20 km) would be upgraded at a cost of nearly Rs. 150 crore. The Union Government had granted Rs. 50 crore for this and promised that another Rs. 50 crore would be provided.
The following are the some of the other Cabinet decisions: only officers of the IAS and professors who have put in ten years of service will be eligible for appointment as registrars of universities; nearly 1300 personnel to be recruited to the Department of Survey Settlement and Land Records; special duty allowance for police personnel serving in the Anti-Naxal Force; and grant of 12.28 acres to the Indian Institute of Human Settlement in Kempe Gowda layout of the Bangalore Development Authority at a subsidised cost.
