Shobha Karandlaje inaugurates Mescom office in Bejai

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 15, 2012: Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone for a new Mescom office in Bejai today, Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje said that Rs. 10 crore will be spent on building this office, which will have facilities for solar power generation and rain water harvesting among others.

Further, she said that the problem of power shortage has reduced during the past four years, adding that new stations will be upgraded to provide three-phase electricity to rural areas.

Speaking of the need for Rs. 11,000 crore to set up new electricity lines and power stations in rural areas, she said that power supply will be expensive if there are fewer stations and there will be power shortage in case of fewer lines. Citing the example of Uttara Karnataka, she said that power is taken directly from the line, leading to severe shortage of power and added that the problem can be solved only if new lines are implemented.

Further, she announced that the second power unit in Bellary will be completed by the end of this month, adding that units in Raichur and Varahi are in the process of getting completed.

She also declared that the BJP government has increased electricity production by 24 percent. Stating that Gujarat is the only Indian state that independently supplies and produces electricity, she said that Karnataka could be the second India state to achieve this feat if the central government extends the support. The state’s electricity problems will be solved by 2014 if the central government helps it get a corridor, she added.

Among those present were MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLC Monappa Bhandary, Mescom MD Sumanth, Corporator Lancelot Pinto, and Deputy Mayor Amitha Kala.