Date:09/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/09/stories/2007010913450400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Unscheduled loadshedding likely in State

Special Correspondent

Repairs have been planned for two units of Nagjhari powerhouse

Bangalore: Loadshedding may be resorted to in the State for eight days from January 14 as urgent repairs are to be undertaken in units one and two of the Nagjhari powerhouse, the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) has said.

In a press note, it said the two units generated around 350 MW of power and should they be shut down, unscheduled loadshedding would be imposed to meet the shortfall.

Maintenance

Meanwhile, the KPTCL has directed the electricity transmission and distribution companies to undertake quarterly repair and maintenance of the transmission and distribution lines.

Interestingly, the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) has not taken a decision to shut down the two units of the Nagjhari powerhouse for repair.

No confirmation

"We only had a discussion with the KPTCL that we propose to undertake repairs, but have not confirmed it," a senior official of the KPCL told The Hindu here on Monday.

Talks with Kerala

Karnataka is holding talks with the Kerala Government to purchase power and a final decision will be taken soon, Minister for Energy H.D. Revanna has said.

The daily power consumption, which was around 119 million units now, was expected to touch 140 million units in February and March, which marked the peak of summer in terms of power supply, he told presspersons here on Monday.

With the daily power consumption expected to witness an unprecedented increase of 13 to 23 million units in the next two months, the State had to purchase power from the Central Power Grid or Kerala. Compared to Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, the power situation was better in the State, Mr. Revanna said.

Taking serious note of the bleak power supply scenario, a Cabinet sub-committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa had been constituted to decide whether to enforce loadshedding or to spend heavily to prevent it, he said.