Centre releases 319 MW to Karnataka.

Centre has decided to release 319 MW power to Karnataka after a delegation led by Union Minister Ananth Kumar met Power Minister Piyush Goyal recently in the backdrop of power crisis in the State.

Other members of the delegation were Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda and Lok Sabha MP Prahlad Joshi, a press release issued by Power Ministry said.

The delegation apprised Goyal of the situation in Karnataka, and said farmers were getting power only for two to three hours a day.

They also informed Goyal that because of scanty rainfall in the last season, production of hydel power had been badly affected, the statement said.

Goyal told the delegation that the government is working on the concept of ‘One Nation, One Grid, One Rate’. He said there is no shortage of coal in any of the thermal plants.

The transmission capacity in South India has gone up by 70 per cent in the last two years, and will go up by 80 per cent in next 18 months.

Considering the severity of the power situation in Karnataka, Goyal announced immediate release of 319 MW of power to the State. The situation will be reviewed in April, the statement added.

HBL