Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Nov 8: Even as people of Karnataka coast were complacent on the basis of repeated assurances from ministers that there would not be any power outages on account of satisfactory power situation, people of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have been jolted by the sudden announcement of unscheduled load shedding with immediate effect. Shockingly, the situation has turned for the worse when rainy season is about to end. People shudder to think about the situation that might prevail during summer, going by the current crisis.
Although it is said that load shedding would be limited to two hours every day and it would be a temporary phenomenon, sources say that this situation night continue for long. In addition to creating problems for various sectors including education, agriculture, industry and business, load shedding also results in increased consumption of petroleum products and enhanced pollution levels on account of large scale use of generators.
Usually, the government puts forth the excuse of shortfall in rain as a reason for resorting to load shedding, but this time it cannot claim shelter under this pretext as rainfall this time was copious. Although people of the twin-districts had hoped that power shortage would be a thing of the past with Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) starting generation of power and quickly increasing its capacity. But as giant share of the power generated by the company goes to Bengaluru and Hubballi, the districts get only a small share of two percent. Although demands had been placed for increasing this share, the concerned are yet to take a decision.
It is said that arrears of payment to UPCL from electric supply companies like Gulbarga and Hubballi have totalled to Rs 800 crore and this is one of the major reasons for shortage in power supply. UPCL, which has a capacity to generate 1,200 mw, has shut one of its units for maintenance. UPCL Adani officials said that repairs and maintenance work are being taken on account of technical problems and that the unit will become functional within ten days.
It is said that UPCL does not have funds to buy coal now although coal stock is available. On the other hand, Raichur Thermal Power Station has funds but there is no coal supply.
In many places, power cables have become very old and a little change in the climate or wind disrupts power supply to various places. Load shedding has added to the woes of the beneficiaries. It is tragic that Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts where several other facilities have improved over time, and Mangaluru Electric Supply Company is known to be one of the best run electricity supply companies in the state, which also boasts of being prompt in clearance of its dues, are facing this ordeal. One hopes that politicians, who had earlier tried to see that the region gets uninterrupted power supply, will come together and fight for this cause apolitically, without trying to use this opportunity to reap political benefit in the coming election.