Hassan (Karnataka), Jul 4 (PTI): Under the Kusum-C scheme, which aims to solarise agricultural feeders and provide daytime electricity supply to farmers' pump sets, 200 MW of electricity is already being produced. In the coming months, 545 MW of electricity will be generated, Energy Minister K J George said Friday.
Addressing a press conference after the energy department’s progress review meeting in the district, he said, "Under the Kusum-C scheme, construction of solar units with a capacity of around 200 megawatts has already been completed."
According to him, in the next few months, solar units with a capacity of 545 megawatts will be commissioned at 93 locations. This will help provide an adequate daytime electricity supply to farmers.
"Our government has set a target of generating 2,400 megawatts of solar electricity through feeder solarisation of agricultural pump sets under the Kusum-C scheme."
Recently, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated a solar power unit established under the Kusum-C scheme in Gauribidanur. The feeder solarisation work is progressing at a rapid pace, George added.
Under the Kusum-C scheme, generating 1 megawatt of electricity requires four acres of land. If government land is available, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed that it be allocated free of cost.
However, George said that private power producers must pay Rs 25,000 per acre, which will be deposited with the district commissioner and used to improve government schools and Anganwadis in the villages where the substations are located.
“If private land is used, developers awarded the power generation contracts will lease the land and pay landowners a minimum of Rs 25,000 per acre,” the Minister said.
He said that efforts are underway to ensure a reliable power supply to farmers' pump sets. Of the 4 lakh unauthorised pump sets in the state, 3 lakh have already been regularised.
"For pump sets within 500 meters of power feeders, transformers will be installed by the department. Those beyond 500 meters will receive solar pump sets under the Kusum-B scheme," George said.
The Minister said Energy Department officials must promptly address the concerns of farmers and the general public. Rather than waiting, take the initiative to meet elected representatives, gather their feedback, and act on it.
"Neglecting public grievances will reflect poorly on the department. Senior officers have been instructed to take strict action, including transferring disengaged officials," he added.
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Gadag (Karnataka), Jul 27 (PTI): BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavarj Bommai on Sunday condemned Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's statement on the Mahadayi river project, as he also questioned the Congress' moral right to speak on the issue.
He claimed that whatever progress has been made on the Mahadayi issue, it happened under the BJP government.
Addressing the Goa Assembly last week, Sawant claimed that the Centre would not approve the Mahadayi project.
He also said the Goa government would file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Karnataka for carrying out activities aimed at diverting Mahadayi river water.
Bommai said, "There is no need to politicise the Mahadayi project issue. We are all united as this is an issue concerning the state. I condemn the statement made by the Chief Minister of Goa. There is no need to play such a big political game over one state's interests. He must act in accordance with the law, and hence I condemn his remarks."
Speaking to reporters here, he questioned the moral standing of Congress leaders in Karnataka on the Mahadayi issue.
"Congress leader Sonia Gandhi herself during the Goa polls said that not a single drop of Mahadayi water would be given to Karnataka. What moral right does Congress have to speak on this issue?" he asked.
Dubbing the Goa CM's statement an "insult to the people of Karnataka", CM Siddaramaiah had earlier hit out at the BJP stating "Why has the Centre not officially communicated its concerns? Is this how federalism works under the BJP? Are we being punished for not surrendering to the BJP?"
Bommai accused the Congress party of building a barrier to prevent Mahadayi water from flowing into the Malaprabha river, thereby obstructing the interlinking canal work initiated during the BJP regime and this was the only "contribution" Congress made to the Mahadayi project.
"Whatever progress has been made on the Mahadayi issue, it happened under the BJP government. The Congress, which constituted the tribunal, did not even provide it an office for four years. It was the BJP government that gave it an office. Though the tribunal gave a verdict, it was not notified. The NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued the notification," he said.
It was the central NDA government that prepared the DPR for the Mahadayi project and got it approved. "It was also the BJP government that secured environmental clearance. The only thing the Congress did was to block the interlinking canal works started during the BJP tenure by constructing a barrier to prevent Mahadayi water from reaching the Malaprabha river," he said.
Goa has been opposing Karnataka's Kalasa-Banduri project in the Mahadayi river basin.
The Kalasa-Banduri project by the Karnataka government proposes diverting Mahadayi river water into the Malaprabha river to enhance the drinking water supply in parts of Dharwad, Belagavi, Bagalkote, and Gadag districts.
The Mahadayi river flows through Karnataka and Goa before joining the Arabian Sea. Known as the Mandovi in Goa, it is one of the state's two major rivers.
The diversion of Mahadayi water has long been a point of contention between Karnataka and Goa, with the latter claiming "it would severely impact the state's flora and fauna."
Speaking about the urea shortage in the state, Bommai said the government could have averted the crisis.
"Rainfall began early this year, and fertilizer should have been supplied where needed. Buffer stock should have been maintained, the management has not been proper," he said.
Noting that the state government has now submitted to the Centre for additional urea fertilizer supply, he said, "We (BJP) too will speak with the Union Minister for Agriculture and Fertilizers to get more supply. But more importantly, the fertilizer that is already arriving must be distributed properly by the Agriculture Department and the concerned ministers."