Despite the shortage of coal which has hit power production in the State, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday said that the State government will not resort to load-shedding since the gap between demand and supply in the State is only between 200 MW and 400 MW between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily.
Refuting reports of load-shedding in the media, he said: “There has been no decision on load-shedding yet. Without my signature officials cannot start load-shedding.”
“Though we were planning to conserve hydel power for months after February, the government is likely to consider generating more hydel power to tide over the shortage,” he told presspersons after holding a review meeting of power corporations and electricity supply companies.
The Chief Minister said that 24-hour power supply is being ensured in cities and for industries, while rural areas, under the Nirantara Jyothi scheme, are getting 22 to 24 hours of supply.
In the rest of the rural areas and for irrigation pumpsets, three-phase power is being supplied for seven hours and single-phase for nine hours, he explained.
The power shortage, he pointed out, was only in the evening between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., since solar energy cannot be harnessed.
“While the demand during this period is between 8,600 MW and 9,100 MW, the supply is in between 8,400 MW and 8,700 MW. This is also a time when solar energy cannot be harnessed.” Mr. Kumaraswamy, who also holds the Energy portfolio, said that the State government is in constant touch with the Centre over the supply of coal.
“The Chief Secretary met the Coal Secretary on Wednesday. I have also spoken to Coal Minister Piyush Goel. The Centre has assured us of coal supply. Currently there is shortage of railway rakes to transport coal,” he added.
When asked if the Centre was deliberately not supplying coal to Karnataka, Mr. Kumaraswamy said: “I do not want to indulge in politics. We should have patience. I do not want to make an allegation against anyone.”
