Reliable Electricity Supply a Priority, Link Line Works to Be Accelerated: Energy Minister K. J. George

 Bengaluru Express
Koppal, November : Establishing power link lines within existing sub-station limits will be prioritised to ensure a reliable, demand-based electricity supply, Energy Minister K. J. George said today.

 
He was speaking today at a progress review meeting on the Energy Department, organised jointly by Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) and Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company (GESCOM), at the J. H. Patel Hall of the Zilla Panchayat in the city.
 
The Energy Minister directed officials to ensure that proper power supply is prioritised by establishing the necessary link lines within the jurisdiction of existing sub-stations. He emphasised that KPTCL and GESCOM must closely monitor operations to guarantee complete line-to-line connectivity at all sub-stations.

Coordination With Local Representatives Essential

“Whenever officials take up work involving electric poles, transformers, or other electrical infrastructure, they must inform and collaborate with local people’s representatives, who understand the issues in their respective areas. They must immediately repair or replace transformers, especially those supplying power to farmers. Officials should promptly resolve any problems related to wires, poles, or power interruptions. They must meet local representatives, review area-specific concerns, and implement suitable solutions,” Energy Minister K. J. George said.

Inform and Support Farmers

“It is essential to ensure a stable power supply. Officials must monitor electricity theft in the areas of pump sets, other people’s use, and industries. They must also ensure transformers are not damaged by overloading. Additionally, farmers should be informed about schemes such as the Illegal-to-Legal Regularisation Scheme, the Rapid Connection Scheme, and other support programs for small and large farmers. Areas where borewells have been dug under the Ganga Kalyana scheme must be provided with an electricity connection immediately. Farmers should be encouraged to switch to solar pump sets under the ‘Kusum-B’ scheme. During floods, damaged electrical infrastructure must be repaired promptly. Works related to establishing and upgrading power sub-stations must be completed quickly to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the public,” the Minister said.

Under the Nirantharajyothi scheme, electricity is being supplied to household connections, but some farmers are hooking single-phase lines illegally to run irrigation pump sets. If this continues, the power supply will have to be disconnected. Under the illegal-to-legal regularisation and Rapid Connection schemes, basic power infrastructure is being provided for irrigation pump sets. In Koppal district, out of 216 unauthorised irrigation pump sets, 108 have already been regularised, and the remaining ones will be regularised soon,” Energy Minister K J George elaborated.

Concern” from Representatives

In light of the need for steady and efficient power delivery, Koppal MLA K. Raghavendra Hitnal called for the timely completion of all electricity-related works and an uninterrupted drinking water supply. He also drew attention to the replacement of ageing poles and wires. Responding to these concerns, the Energy Minister directed officials to take immediate corrective measures.
 
The meeting saw participation from the Chief Minister’s Economic Advisor and Yelburga MLA Basavaraj Rayaraddi, MP Rajashreekar Basavaraj Hitnal, GESCOM Chairman Praveen Patil Haraval, KUDA Chairman Shrinivas Gupta, KPTCL Managing Director Pankaj Kumar Pandey, GESCOM Managing Director Krishna Bhajpeyi, Zilla Panchayat CEO Varnith Negi, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sidrameshwar, Assistant Commissioner Mahesh Malagitti, along with several officials from KPTCL and GESCOM.

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