BANGALORE: The state government which is keen to provide uninterrupted power supply to Bangalore city plans to make the silicon city a solar city .
Energy Minister D K Shivakumar in his three-hour reply in the Assembly said his department has made a presentation in this regard in Electronics City. “We have urged all educational institutions, industries, IT companies to install solar panels and utilise it before giving surplus power to 11 kv grid that would be set up at the earliest,” he said.
He said there are also plans to pay `9.20 per MW to those supplying surplus power to the grid. Announcing that the government is keen to add 1,000 MW power in the next one year from renewable energy sources, he said the government has also come out with a Solar Power Policy that encourages farmers, industrialists and investors to set up 1 to 3 MW solar power plants that needs a minimum of Rs 7 crore to generate one MW power. Farmers' interests will also be taken care through ground rent paid by the investor, he said.
Shivakumar said they have taken initiatives to strengthen power supply in Bangalore. The government has invited expression of interest for Rs 2,027 crore to streamline the system in the next 18 months.
He said like other metro cities that have separate power grids, the government plans to build a 150 MW thermal plant in Bangalore for emergency purposes. The government has called for an expression of interest and those with 100 acres of land can participate, he said. He said there is a shortage of 10 to 12 per cent in demand and supply of power in the state. The power generation that was 4.32 MW in 1902 is 14,029 MW in 2014. But, the increase in consumer connections by two crores other than IP sets has increased power consumption.
He said the state produced 1,500 MW hydel power as against the target of 3,655 MW.
He said the government has held talks with sugar factories producing 1,350 MW to further increase their production by 850 MW in the next three years. The state needs 2,500 MW per day by 2015 to meet the demand. There are also plans to buy 400 MW power from Kundankulam power project and the Damodar Valley Corporation.
Appointment of Ombudsmen
The Energy Department has appointed an ombudsman in every district headed by Superintendent Engineers and others members of the consumer redressal forum to attend to the grievances within three days of lodging a compliant.
The department will pay a fine of Rs 50 per day on failing to attend to the compliant, he said.
DKS Brings Lemon to House
Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, who recently visited the Rishyashrunga temple at Kigga to offer puja to invoke the rain gods, entered the Assembly on Tuesday with a lemon.
The minister said the lemon, considered auspicious with powers to ward off evil, was given by one of his well-wishers on his way to the Assembly.
He chanted couplets by Saint Sarvajna and a few lines from a poem by poet D V Gundappa.
Shivakumar seemed to have made an impression on his political arch-rival H D Kumaraswamy and praised him for his debates and his ability to throw light on many issues with his vast political experience.
Shivakumar maintained that he cannot blame individuals or any government for the present condition of the Power Department. “This is no time to look at the faults and failures,” he said.
Other assurances
Work on Niranthara Jyothi scheme will be completed in 127 taluks
To take steps to recover dues from farmers
All taluks to get Transformer Banks
Power connection for drinking water in 24 hrs
Replacement/repair of transformers in 72 hrs
To consider the plea to bring NGEF under the Department to make transformers
MLAs to get SMS on status of transformers in their constituencies