Union Power Minister reviews Karnataka’s power sector, emphasises reforms, smart metering
Bengaluru: Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar conducted a detailed review of Karnataka’s power sector during a high-level meeting held in Bengaluru on Saturday. The session was attended by Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Naik, Karnataka Energy Minister K. J. George, and senior officials from both the Centre and the State, including representatives from REC Ltd.
The Karnataka government made a comprehensive presentation highlighting the current status of power generation, transmission, and distribution in the state. Key issues discussed included the generation mix, challenges in acquiring Right of Way (RoW) for transmission projects, and the need for Central support to upgrade distribution infrastructure.
Manohar Lal appreciated Karnataka’s growing contribution of renewable energy to the power mix and stated that his visit was aimed at gaining a better understanding of ground-level issues while exploring new initiatives to strengthen the state’s power supply system.
The Union Minister advised the state government to take effective steps to reduce annual financial losses in power utilities and to move towards implementing cost-reflective tariffs. He stressed the importance of clearing dues and subsidies related to various government departments and urged the state to ensure the saturation of prepaid smart meters in all government establishments, including local bodies and residential colonies, by August 2025.
He also called for a centralized payment system to manage government electricity dues efficiently. In addition, he directed the state to fast-track smart metering for commercial, industrial, and other consumer segments in a time-bound manner.
Highlighting delays in transmission infrastructure due to RoW issues, the Minister urged early resolution and suggested adopting the compensation framework notified by the Central government.
Manohar Lal assured that the Centre would extend full support to Karnataka in strengthening its power sector and reiterated the government’s commitment to the overall development and welfare of the state and its citizens.
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Had a very good conversation with friend Modi: Trump
Washington (PTI): US President Donald Trump on Friday said he had a "very good conversation" with his "friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He was referring to the talks the two leaders had on Tuesday.
"I had a very good talk with him, and he's a friend of mine from India, and he's doing great. We had a very good conversation," Trump told reporters here as he headed to Las Vegas to address a roundtable on tax cuts.
Trump had called Modi on Tuesday to discuss the bilateral relationship and share perspectives on the situation in West Asia, where the US and Israel have launched a war on Iran.
The US and Iran declared a two-week ceasefire on April 7. They engaged in peace talks with Washington, insisting that Tehran give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons and uranium enrichment.
The war with Iran has sent gas prices soaring as Tehran blocked the sea lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow gateway for a fifth of global oil supplies.
During the Trump-Modi phone call on Tuesday, the two leaders stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure.
According to the US Ambassador to India Sergei Gor, the 40-minute conversation ended with Trump telling Modi, "we all love you".
Tuesday's phone call was the second between the two leaders since the US-Israel war with Iran began on February 28.
