DK Shi proposes State Water Commission, his book ‘Neerina Hejje’ to be released by CM Siddaramaiah
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Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also oversees the Water Resources Department, has proposed the formation of a State Water Commission, modelled on the Central Water Commission, to guide the state government on water resource management and explore long-term solutions to inter-state water disputes.
“The proposed commission would look at all aspects, including drinking water, irrigation, providing water for industries, and other facilities,” The New Indian Express quoted Shivakumar as saying.
He said that, in addition to advising on inter-state water disputes, the proposed commission will assess the state’s water demand and availability, and hold farmers accountable for water usage. The commission will be set up shortly, he said, adding that a legislation is required to set it up.
The commission will also study the impact of global warming, assess water storage capacity in dams, and recommend measures for the efficient management of water resources during floods and droughts.
Recommending new irrigation projects, developing water bodies, and improving natural water resources will also fall under the purview of the State Water Commission (SWC).
Neerina Hejje, a book on the state’s irrigation sector penned by Shivakumar, is set for launch on Wednesday. The book will be released by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru.
Former water resources ministers Basavaraj Bommai, M.B. Patil and H.K. Patil have reportedly been invited for Shivakumar’s book launch.
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No unannounced load shedding in Kerala, outages due to overload, says Minister
Palakkad (PTI): Kerala Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty on Saturday said there was no unannounced load shedding in the state, attributing recent power interruptions to temporary overload caused by high consumption.
Clarifying concerns raised from various parts of the state, the minister said the disruptions are not deliberate but occur when demand peaks, particularly between 10 pm and 11 pm.
"It is not being done intentionally. Power consumption has risen sharply, and when there is excessive and indiscriminate usage, the system experiences overload, leading to natural supply interruptions," he told reporters here.
His remarks come amid complaints that several areas have been witnessing frequent power cuts, often lasting around 15 minutes and occurring multiple times during the night.
Krishnankutty said the state's power demand has crossed 6,195 MW, putting pressure on the supply system. He added that around 70 per cent of Kerala's electricity is procured from outside, and existing power banking arrangements have been exhausted.
"We have approached the Regulatory Commission seeking permission to purchase more power. However, this will come at a higher cost," he said.
The minister said the government is trying to avoid increasing electricity tariffs and urged consumers to exercise restraint in usage to help manage the situation.
Responding to opposition criticism over the ruling LDF's earlier claims of a decade without power cuts, he said the current situation is not unique to Kerala.
A power crisis is emerging across the country, he said, and sarcastically asked the Opposition to take note of the role of natural factors in this.
Krishnankutty expressed confidence that the situation would improve within two days, while cautioning that long-term energy security would depend on enhancing in-state power generation.
He also warned that future generations could face serious challenges if adequate electricity production capacity is not developed within Kerala.
