Industry associations in Karnataka have urged the state government to come out with a clear action plan for the state to address the perennial power shortages.
In a meeting with Murugesh R Nirani, minister of large and medium scale industries, Government of Karnataka on Tuesday, Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce, president K R Girish has asked it to adopt the Gujarat model of supplying free power to farmers only during non-peak hours and if they want quality power during peak hour then they have to pay through a dual line mechanism. “Also, there is the need to meter such free distribution of power as today that is not known,” Girish added.
The association has added that as per the recent regulations formulated by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), the State Load Despatch Centre consumers can purchase power through power exchanges due to open access in transmission. “Rajasthan has taken the lead and granted open access to a consumer — RSWML — to purchase power through the IEX. States like Karnataka could follow this model,” Girish added.
BCIC, while noting that the state has T&D losses of 34-36 per cent, has said that a combination of measures like high industry efficiency, optimal demand side management, practical level of energy conservation and maximum deployment of new and renewable energy technologies can ensure the supply security on sustainable basis at least cost to the state.
The industry associations while welcoming Karnataka government’s move to set up a 1,200 Mw thermal power unit in Chhattisgarh, said “the same is not going to be a reality until 2012”.
Given that Karnataka has not got any nuclear power station it is urged that appropriate representation be made to the Centre to have one allocated under the Nuclear Power Policy of the Government of India. In addition to this, the BCIC has stated that the state should embark upon the task of harnessing the huge untapped hydro-electric potential.
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In the face of mad surge in demand for power, one will have to live with the slogan “Power at any Cost” rather than “Cheap Power”. This necessitates implementation of all projects hitherto dogged by controversies and in limbo. “This requires a strong and united political will and also educating the public on the needs and benefits,” Girish added.
Representatives from Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association opposed the proposal from the industries minister to raise the power tariff. They demanded for supply of uninterrupted power to the SSI sector at the present rate of tariff.
Nirani clarified that he would discuss the matter with the chief minister and resolve the issue immediately.