Karnataka > Power of Karnataka
Karnataka was a pioneer in the development of hydro power and had a power surplus situation till the seventies. Due to rapid industrialisation and other structural problems it is facing acute power shortage. In 1998-99 against an unrestricted demand of 26,300 MUs generation from the State Grid has only 17,245 MUs leaving a gap of 9055 MUs. After the contribution of Central Stations to the extent of 5,549 MUs, the state is left with an annual defecit of 35,506 MUs. It is estimated that energy demand and peak load in the state at the end of the Ninth Plan (2001-2002) will be 31,208 MUs and 5,422 MWs respectively as per the 15th Power Survey Report of Central Electricity
Authority. A major reason for the chronic power shortage is the dependence on hydel power. The hydel-thermal mix is 70:30, leaving the State with a heavy dependence on rainfall in the catchment area. Karnataka is endowed with hydro power potential of about 7,800 MWs of which only about 2,836 MWs has been harnessed, 472 MWs can be expected from hydro projects under various stages of execution. Environmental issues connected with the submersion of forests, rehabilitation of displaced persons as well as delay in the settlement of interstate disputes have affected the utilisation of available hydel power.
In 1887, Gokak Mills (formerly Gokak Water Power and Manufacturing Company) by an agreement with the Government of erstwhile Bombay State, made use of 170 ft falls of the Ghataprabha known as the Gokak Falls, to generate power at the foot of the hills for working their cotton ginning mills situated nearby. It is said that they generated water power with 3 units of 500 kw each in 1911 and one unit of 1000 kw in 1924 using Francis Hydro Turbines.
By 1902, the east-bound Cauvery had been harnessed to generate 4.3 MW at Shivasamudram making use of the Cauvery falls popularly known as Gaganachukki and Bharachukki. The electricity of this station was supplied to Kolar Gold Mines, a distance of 147 km through 78 KV transmission lines which at that time was the world's longest transmission line. Subsequently the generating station was extended by the second installation in 1903, the third in 1907, the fourth in 1914-15, the fifth in 1918 and the sixth in 1919. The seventh installation was sanctioned in 1925. The power generated in this station was supplied to Bangalore and Mysore cities besides important industrial concerns. The Shimsha power house was commissioned in 1940. It is located at the confluence of Shimsha and Cauvery rivers near Shimshapura village of Malavalli taluk (Mandya dt.) It has an installed capacity of 17.2. MWs.
The Mahatma Gandhi Hydro-Electric Station was established during 1947-48 on the west-flowing Sharavati near Jog Falls with an installed capaity of 48 MW. This project is producing the bulk of energy that is consumed by the State at present.
The Bhadra Power house is at the main dam on the Bhadra river and was commissioned in 1962. The Munirabad Power Station (1962) located on the left bank of the Tungabhadra Dam near Hospet has three generating units of 9MW each. The Right Bank Power House releases 14.40 MW of power to the State, which is 20 percent of the total production and the rest is utilised by Andhra Pradesh. The Kali Hydro-Electric Project was cleared for execution in March 1971. The work on Varahi Project has been commissioned.
The Raichur Thermal Plant is the first power plant of its kind in the State and is the first attempt to achieve the much needed power mix. It has the following seven units. RTPS Stage I commissioned on 29.3.1985 (210 MW);
Stage II on 2.8. 1986 (210 MW); Stage III 3.10.1991 (210 MW); Stage IV 29.9.1994 (210 MW) ; Stage V on 31.1.1999 (210 MW) Stage VI on 22.7. 1999 (210 MW); Stage VII On 18.10, 2000 (210 MW). The Nuclear Power Project at Kaiga of Uttara Kannada District put up by the Central Government, will bring in further diversification has been commissioned during 1993-94. It has already gone critical . The diesel power station at Yelahanka near Bangalore has also been commissioned.
During the year 1999-2000 the plan outlay was Rs. 672,18 crores and revised estimate was Rs.325 crores. It was programmed to create an installed capacity of 250 MWs. The third unit of Kodasalli dam and powerhouse (40 MWs) was commissioned in July 1999 in 34 months with considerable savings in project costs. Thus, the total installed capacity of 250 MWs. as per target was already achieved. Related Information on Power of Karnataka Karnataka Electricity Board
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