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ShareWith Karnataka's hydel reservoirs having enough supply to last for another 10 days only, the state will plunge into darkness if the rain gods don't smile or the government fails to mop up at least half of its annual budget. Dr SL Rao, power expert, chairman, Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC) and first chairman of National Electricity Regulatory Commission, spoke to Sunitha Rao R on the dismal situation staring the state in the face.
How is the power situation in the state?
The state's power situation is extremely dismal; we are facing an acute shortage. The consumption rate of power has seen a sharp rise. For instance, due to the drought-like situation prevailing in the state, water has to be pumped constantly for agricultural work and this is again leading to greater power consumption. But no new plants are coming up to meet the additional need. The present government has started thinking on these lines, but it will take time to implement its ideas.
Do you think government is handling the issue properly?
No. Too much is being said about these issues but too little is being done in Karnataka. Worshipping the gods is not going to solve the power crisis in the state. For the past ten years, hardly any initiatives have taken by the earlier state governments to improve the power situation here. The previous coalition governments completely shunned the issue. But the present government is showing interest gradually.
Do you think government could have taken some precautionary measures in January, to avoid the current situation?
The farmers here are provided with free electricity but it should have been avoided. There was no need to supply power free of cost as lot of resources is used to generate each unit of power. Even plantation owners are getting free power, which again shouldn't have been the case. Police squads should have been appointed to deal with issues like power theft. This system has been implemented in Delhi where specially devised police stations have been functioning to track power thefts. Privatisation of power generation could be an option. The government should have made rain water harvesting mandatory for all buildings.
What precautions could be taken now?
Certain stringent measures must be taken. Let the state government come up with measures such as making it mandatory to switch off AC everywhere in the state, be it in the Vidhana Soudha, theatres, houses, offices, companies etc. Those who make use of AC despite the rule must be made to pay a penalty. Free power should not be given to farmers who possess more than one pump set. The state must ask the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission to increase the tariff temporarily, so that power can be bought from outside.
