Even as the State continues to face frequent power shortage, the government has said that it will create an energy bank of 21,614 MW by the end of the financial year 2021-22.
The State government in its annual report for 2012-13 has mentioned that in the next decade, it will be adding 15,116 MW to its existing State-controlled capacity of power generation, with around 50 major and minor power projects likely to commence power generation in the next ten years in Karnataka and adjoining states.
At present, the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) is generating 6,498 MWs per year.
Even as the government is presenting a rosy picture on power generation, many of the proposed projects are still awaiting environmental clearance or facing the wrath of the local people in regard to land acquisition and safety concerns.
According to the report, the State government is banking on the controversial hydroelectricity project at Gundia in the Western Ghats as well as the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu to augment its power geneartion and create an energy bank.
As many as 28 power projects in the pipeline are based in Karnataka. Eleven power projects which will give Karnataka a certain share, are located in Tamil Nadu. Six in Odisha under the Ultra Mega Power Project and two units of Chattisgarh’s Godhna project have also been listed for generating power for the energy bank.
New projects
The new projects which are likely to take off during the current financial year include the thermal power plant in Chhattisgarh, the Tadadi a gas plant, the Bidadi gas plant, the Gundia hydel project, Shivanasamudra seasonal scheme, an additional unit at Munirabad hydro power station, the Ghataprabha and the wind energy projects.
Besides, the government is hoping for energy flow from the Kudankulam nuclear plant and two other conventional power projects in Tamil Nadu. For the year 2013-14, the government is planning to add 1,282 MW to its existing capacity, apart from the backlog of 2012-13. The government was able to add only 1,971 MW of power against the estimated 2,504 MW for the year 2012-13.
On the other hand, the government has spent Rs 4,839 crore towards purchasing 11,047 MU of power between April 2012 and March 2013.
Despite the purchase of power, the State fell short by 4,779 MUs. While the State’s consumption was 62,255 MUs, the availability of power from all sources was 57,476 MUs.
* Kudankulam nuclear power plant: Units 1 & 2
* Bidadi gas plant
*Tadadi power plant+
* Odisha UMPP: units 1 to 6
*Chhattisgarh’s Godhna power plant
* Tamil Nadu’s Cheyyur power plant: Units 1 to 6