Govt to Boost Power Sector in State.

The Budget did not have many new announcements for the power sector but the government plans to add significant capacity by the end of the year, according to the chief minister.

In the present financial year, the state added around 576.35 MW to the grid with a total grant of Rs. 750 crore for setting up Bellary Thermal Power Station Unit III, Yermarus Power Station and other schemes like Ganga Kalyana. A grant of Rs. 6,200 crore had also been provided for free power supply to IP sets of farmers and Bhagya Jyothi/Kuteer Jyothi schemes.

'It is expected to add an additional capacity of 507.20 MW by the end of March 2015. This includes an additional 473.15 MW capacity from non-conventional energy sources,' Siddaramaiah said. In the coming year, around 3,361 MW of power is expected to be added to the state grid.

The CM also promised action on setting up a 350 MW capacity gas-based electricity generation centre at Yelahanka, which will take care of Bengaluru city’s needs in times of shortage or generation outages.

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS