Date:01/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/01/stories/2008100154950500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Unscheduled load shedding imposed

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Unscheduled load shedding ranging from one to three hours a day has been imposed in Bangalore and other parts of the State.

Energy Minister K.S. Eshwarappa told presspersons here on Tuesday that the demand for electricity had increased to 116 million units a day owing to deficit rainfall in September. Electricity supply companies (Escoms) had resorted unscheduled load shedding owing to the shortfall in hydel power generation.

The depleting water level at the Linganamakki reservoir had caused the shortfall in the power generation. There was no shortage of coal and steps had been taken to generate thermal power to meet the daily requirement. The seven units of the Raichur Thermal Power Station were generating power. The Bellary Thermal Power Station was generating 500 MW. The State would purchase power from Chhattisgarh only if the situation worsened, he said.

The Centre had given a favourable response to a proposal to establish a 4,000-MW ultra mega thermal power project at Mannur in Basavana Bagewadi taluk of Bijapur district. A team from the Union Power Ministry visited Bijapur on August 25 and 26 to assess the location. About 4,000 acres of land would be made available at Mannur.