Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah directs officials to ensure a consistent supply of electricity for agricultural pumpsets, totaling seven hours each day
BENGALURU:
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took charge of a meeting at his home office ‘Krishna’ on Monday, discussing the Energy Department’s affairs. During the meeting, he emphasized the importance of providing seven hours of electricity daily to agricultural pumpsets.
Attending the meeting were Energy Minister K J George, the chief minister’s political secretary Nazir Ahmed, and senior officers from various departments. The primary topic of discussion was the frequent power outages in the state due to insufficient rainfall.
Officials highlighted that the demand for electricity in 2023 has risen by an average of 43% compared to 2022. In October alone, the energy demand reached 15.978 MW. The consumption of electricity in agricultural activities has surged by 45%, ranging from 55% to 119%. Other sectors have experienced an increase of 9% to 14%. These changes can be attributed to the lack of rain, early usage of IP sets, and the economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.
ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @siddaramaiah ಅವರು ಇಂದು ಇಂಧನ ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ಪ್ರಗತಿ ಪರಿಶೀಲನಾ ಸಭೆಯ ನಂತರ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾಗೋಷ್ಠಿಯನ್ನು ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದರು.
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) November 6, 2023
ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಕೊರತೆಯಿದ್ದು, ಈ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೀರಾವರಿ ಪಂಪ್ಸೆಟ್ಗಳಿಗೆ ಏಳು ಗಂಟೆಗಳ ಕಾಲ ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ನೀಡುವ ಘೋಷಣೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೆವು. ಕೆಲವು ಜನ ಸತತವಾಗಿ ಮೂರು ಫೇಸ್ನಲ್ಲಿ 5 ಗಂಟೆ… pic.twitter.com/361VHOk9p0
Following a progress review, power production at the Raichur and Bellary thermal plants has increased. Additionally, power is being sourced from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. Orders have been issued under Section-11 to restrict electricity supply to other states, ensuring stability in power distribution. Nodal officials are diligently monitoring the situation.
Currently, power utilities in the state are providing uninterrupted electricity for a duration of 5 to 7 hours, catering to the needs of farmers. To sustain a continuous seven-hour period and meet the demand for IP sets across the state, 14 million units per day and 600 MW/hr are required, estimated to cost Rs 1,500 crore.
In order to alleviate the burden on the government, the expenses will be covered through savings and the redistribution of grants. Furthermore, measures are currently being implemented to supply power to IP sets using solar energy sources, a process known as solarisation of EIP feeders. This initiative is expected to be completed within the next year. The officials have confirmed that the tender process is already underway and that farmers will have access to electricity during daylight hours by the following year.
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