Heavy rains lash Karnataka, power situation eased

Heavy rainfall lashing several parts of Karnataka during the last three days have helped ease the grim power situation with the hydel power generating reservoirs reporting a marked increase in inflow.

The electricity-starved residents of the state have heaved a sigh of relief after the authorities withdrew load-shedding imposed to overcome the power shortage.

Principal Secretary to the Department of Energy K Jairaj said the authorities had not resorted to any load-shedding since Sunday due to the improvement in power situation in the state. “The Cabinet Sub Committee on power will review the situation and take a formal decision on withdrawal of load-shedding”, Jairaj said.

The water level in major reservoirs across the state improved steadily after the catchment areas of different rivers good rainfall. Heavy rains were reported in coastal and malnad areas of the state forcing the authorities to declare two days holiday for schools and educational institutions in Kodagu, the catchment area for river Cauvery.

The water level in Linganamakki, Sharavathi and Gerusoppe reservoir, whose hydel power generating stations account for a third of the state’s power supply, have reported a good inflow. The water level at Linganamakki reservoir went up by almost six feet thanks to an inflow almost 60,000 cusecs being recorded during the last two days.

Karnataka State Power Corporation Limited’s Managing Director S M Jamaadar told reporters that the demand for power too has witnessed a sharp fall from around 110-115 million units per day to about 75 million units per day.

“If the rains continue for the next two to three weeks, the power situation in the state will remain normal for the next ten months”, he said.

It may be mentioned here that Karnataka was passing through a grim power situation on account of the failure of monsoon.
However, the heavy rainfall also threatens to damage the standing crop in many districts like Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Hassan, Chikmagalur and Shimoga. With the rains inundating vast tracts of land due to the heavy rains, Additional Director of Crop Development and Planning K V Sarvesh said the farmers may be badly hit. “We will get the details of the crop loss in the next one or two days”, he said.