Karnataka decides to buy 1,000 MW energy till May 2011

PTI

Bangalore, 30 August 2010: Karnataka Government on Monday decided to purchase 1,000 MW from available sources till May next to tide over the acute energy crisis, which the state is currently facing. 

 
The state now reeled under 24 million units (MU) of short supply of power daily, as demand hovered around 115 MU against the supply of 91 MU from all sources, including hydel and thermal.

At a high level meeting of energy department chaired by the state Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, it was decided to resort to purchase 1,000 MW from September to May next.

"The demand for power is growing. During this month it has shot up by at least 15 per cent," Yeddyurappa told reporters after the meeting.

The total energy from all sources tapped last year was 6,066 MUs, as against 4,696 MUs this year, resulting in a shortfall of 1,370 MUs. It has been estimated that an expenditure of Rs 1,937 crore is anticipated for buying power from this September to May, he said.

Though the catchment areas of Hydel reservoirs-- Linganamakki, Supa and Mani -- have been experiencing good rains in the last couple of days and higher inflows are expected, currently the storage level is low compared to last year, Yeddyurappa, who holds the energy portfolio, said.

The decision to purchase power would mean that Bangalore City will get 24 hour power supply, while other cities for 22 hours and rural areas for 12 hours -- "six hour three phase of supply and single phase for as many hours," he said.