BENGALURU: Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) will reduce load-shedding by one hour in the city from Tuesday as the overall power generation in the state has improved with both the units of Udupi Power Corporation (1100 MW) generating power.
In addition to this, one unit of Bellary Thermal Power Station (BTPS) with 430 MW capacity has also started generating power. The state is also getting improved support from wind power units. Hence BESCOM is reducing load-shedding duration in Bengaluru from four hours a day to three hours for its residential consumers. For industrial and commercial feeders, there will be load-shedding for an hour as opposed to two hours earlier. BESCOM has assured that load-shedding will be withdrawn completely as soon as power availability improves further.
However, power cut in the past few days has taken its toll on both the residents of the city and the industrialists. Bharatinagar Residents Forum held a protest with lanterns in front of the BESCOM office at Frazer Town on Monday, demanding restoration of power supply.
Bangalore Chambers of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) expressed serious concern over the power cuts in Karnataka. This move by the state government is adversely affecting the manufacturing sector which is struggling to maintain production schedules, it said.
Anuj Sharma, president, BCIC said: “The scheduled three-hour load-shedding in and around Bengaluru and up to eight hours in rural areas by the state government has come as a severe blow to the industry.”
Thyagu Valliappa, senior vice president at BCIC, said: “If immediate steps are not initiated by the state government to improve the energy supply situation in the state, it is likely to create a negative perception about new capex flowing into the state, specially with Invest Karnataka round the corner.”
BCIC has asked the state government and power companies to reduce transmission losses in phases and ensure a separate feeder and power distribution schedule and billing for the agricultural sector. The chamber recommends that the state government increase the short-term purchase as an immediate measure to ensure that the scheduled load-shedding hours are reduced.