Karnataka eyes share in central power scheme

Bangalore: The Karnataka government is taking pro-active steps in making sure it benefits from the newly revised Rs 50,000 crore Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP). The state is eyeing a share of Rs 3,000 crore from the programme into the state.

The APDRP aims at bringing Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses to less than 15 per cent by the end of 11th Five Year Plan in the urban and high population density areas. K Jairaj, principal secretary, state energy department, said despite the strong IT background of Karnataka, the IT infrastructure in distribution companies was next to nothing.

Calling on the distribution companies in the state to avail of maximum benefits from the APDRP, he said, “Electricity supplying companies must send detailed project reports within one month, which will be sent by us to the union ministry. With good projects, we can look at a share of Rs 3,000-Rs 3,500 crore for Karnataka.”

Officials have cautioned that Karnataka’s AT&C losses have recorded large variations among various distribution companies. “Bangalore Electricity Supply Company recorded one of the lowest AT&C losses in 2006-07 at 12.09 per cent. However others like Hubli Electricity Supply Company, Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company and Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company recorded AT&C losses of 37 per cent, 41 per cent and 47 per cent respectively,” said Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Power.