Bangalore: "There is a need to change the approach to energy policy. We have to move on from energy conservation to energy efficiency," Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has said.

He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the Lights Museum and Energy Centre (LIMEC) and HRD Centre at Hoody on Monday.

Mr. Shinde said India ranked sixth in the world with regard to energy consumption. The country was facing a 12 per cent energy shortage. Demand management and energy efficiency were the new-age mantras for the power sector, he said.

"However, we have come a long way with regard to power generation. During Independence, the installed capacity was 1,360 mw. It now stands at 1,25,000 mw. Yet, over 50 per cent of the rural households have no power," he said.

Mr. Shinde said that under the Rajiv Gandhi Gram Vidyudhikarana Yojana, every village in the country would be electrified by 2009. He also said the Power Ministry had another ambitious scheme, which envisaged power supply to all by 2012.

Mr. Shinde congratulated the State Government and Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. for their plan to set up LIMEC, the first of its kind in the country. "I am happy to note that all stakeholders in the power sector are partners in the project. I am confident that the museum will show the way for others to be more energy efficient," he added.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said the State has never wavered from the path set by the Union Government. He said the Government would do its best to support the Tadari project, and added that the Government had earmarked Rs. 5,700 crore to KPTCL and the ESCOMs to set up new stations. He said that when he visited villages in north Karnataka, farmers complained to him about the problems they were facing owing to power shortage. "It is mainly because of the increase in temperatures. Nevertheless, I called KPTCL Managing Director Bharath Lal Meena. Within 24 hours, the KPTCL officials visited the spot and took remedial measure. This only shows that the Government keeps up its promises," he said.

A. Krishnappa, MLA, who presided over the function, urged the Chief Minister to include the seven city municipal councils, one town municipal council and 14 gram panchayats around Bangalore in the mega city project.

Mr. Meena said LIMEC would showcase cutting-edge innovations in technology, art, architecture and design. The plan was to develop an interactive exhibition of energy efficient lighting products and systems.

Eight acres

Speaking to presspersons earlier, he said LIMEC was planned on the basis of the Green Building in Hyderabad, which had a platinum ranking. It would be set on eight acres of land at Hoody with a constructed area of 2 lakh sqft. "A few details have to be worked out yet. According to initial estimates, we need Rs. 35 crore to set up the centre," he said.

The HRD Centre for employees of KPTCL and ESCOMs would be set up at a cost of Rs. 10 crore.

Beth Hogan of USAID; Arvind Jadhav, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power; G. Kumar Naik, Managing Director, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company; M. Nagaraj and B.C. Patil, MLAs; and senior officials of KPTCL and BESCOM were present.

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