UDUPI: Energy Minister D K Shivakumar said efforts are on to buy power.
“If rain does not revive in the state within a week’s time, more taluks would be added to the drought-hit list. In that scenario, the state which is facing a power deficit of 2,000 MW would slip into a grave situation,” the minister said. As there is no rain, demand for electricity has increased, he said.
“We would be purchasing 300 MW from Jindal Power Plant. About 1,000 MW, which Telangana surrendered to power exchange, has been purchased by the state,” he said.
“We immediately stopped power generation using from Linganamakki dam after purchasing the power. We would purchase power from all available sources and from the Centre whenever other states surrender power,” Shivakumar said. To a query on the possibility of transforming the coal-based UPCL thermal power plant into a gas-based plant, he said it is not possible.
Regarding an ultra mega power plant proposed at Niddodi, he said that there is no progress.
On the apprehensions over expansion of UPCL to make it 2,800 MW unit from current 1,600 MW, Shivakumar said the state’s interest is important.
Earlier, representatives of District Congress Kisan Cell, led by president Yellur Shashidhar Shetty appealed to the minister that under no circumstances the state should allow Udupi Power Corporation to expand its power generation as the people in the region have been suffering from health problems.