Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister and Bidar district in-charge Eshwar B. Khandre on Saturday said that power infrastructure projects worth around ₹1,100 crore are being implemented in the district to strengthen electricity supply and support comprehensive development and energy self-reliance.
He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for a 110/11 kV power substation at Goranalli-B (Chitta) village in Bidar taluk.
The programme was organised by Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL).
Mr. Khandre said that the large-scale power corridor project includes the establishment of a 440 kV station at a cost of ₹700 crore, a 220 kV station worth ₹150 crore and 16 new power distribution substations at an estimated cost of ₹22 crore.
He said that all these projects are expected to be completed within a year. They will significantly reduce load-shedding and tripping problems in the district.
The Minister said that the projects will provide a permanent solution to frequent power disruptions and transformer burnouts faced by farmers in the predominantly agriculture-based district.
Improved quality power supply will ensure uninterrupted electricity for agriculture and industrial sectors, he added.
Mr. Khandre expressed the confidence that the proposed corridor will also facilitate supply of surplus power generated in the region to neighbouring areas, including Kalaburagi, Hyderabad and Goa.
Emphasising the importance of energy self-reliance, he urged farmers to take up renewable energy generation to reduce dependence on imported fuel.
Farmers can generate nearly one megawatt of solar or wind power on three or four acres of land, use free electricity for pumpsets and sell surplus power to the government to improve their economic condition, he said.
Bidar South MLA Shailendra Beldale said that the new power substation at Goranalli village will help resolve long-pending technical issues and voltage fluctuations in the district.
He said that the substation will meet the growing electricity demand in rapidly developing localities and nearby villages, including Shahapur, Malakapur and Sultanpur.
Mr. Beldale said that the project has been launched after overcoming legal hurdles related to acquisition of 34 acres of land and urged contractors and engineers to complete the work within the stipulated timeframe while maintaining quality standards.
KPTCL Chief Engineer (Transmission Zone, Kalaburagi) Ramaswamy M.L., Superintending Engineer Ramachandra S.G., GESCOM Chief Engineer Venkatesh Halavi, Executive Engineer Shashirekha Patil, Executive Engineer Ramesh Patil, Superintending Engineer Renuka T.J., Assistant Executive Engineer Prabhu Reddy, Assistant Executive Engineer (Civil) Dayanand and GESCOM Superintending Engineer Veerabhadrappa Salimani, officials, staff and villagers were present.