Karnataka generates 200MW solar power under Kusum-C; 545MW to follow
Speaking to reporters after the energy department's progress review meeting of Hassan district, held on Friday at the Zilla Panchayat hall in the city, George said, "Under the Kusum-C scheme, construction of solar units with a capacity of around 200MW is completed. In the next few months, solar units with a capacity of 545MW will be commissioned at 93 locations. This will help provide an adequate daytime electricity supply to farmers."
"The state govt has set a target of generating 2,400MW of solar electricity through feeder solarisation of agricultural pumpsets 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," the energy minister added.
Under the Kusum-C scheme, generating 1MW of electricity requires 4 acres of land. If govt land is available, CM Siddaramaiah has directed that it be allocated free of cost. However, private power producers must pay ₹25,000 per acre, which will be deposited with the district commissioner and used to improve govt schools and anganwadis in villages where the substations are located, the minister elaborated.
"If private land is used, developers awarded the power generation contracts will lease the land and pay landowners a minimum of ₹25,000 per acre," George said.
Of the 4 lakh unauthorised irrigation pumpsets in the state, 3 lakh are already regularised. For pumpsets within 500m of power feeders, transformers will be installed by the department. Those beyond 500m will receive
solar pumpsets
under the Kusum-B scheme, he said.
Earlier, during a progress review meeting, the district MLAs raised issues concerning the energy department in their constituencies. In response, George instructed the CESC MD to take swift action and reiterated that officials should proactively consult elected representatives and follow through on their suggestions. MP
Shreyas Patel
, MLA and Housing Board chairman KM Shivalingegowda, MLAs K Manju, Swaroop Prakash, CN Balakrishna, HK Suresh, and S Manjunath were present.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Kerala: Youth Congress workers stage protest over Kottayam building collapse
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 5 (ANI): A group of Youth Congress workers staged a protest march outside the official residence of Kerala Health Minister Veena George in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, demanding her resignation over the building collapse at the Kottayam Medical College. Police used water cannons to disperse the workers of the Youth Congress and detained them. This comes after a building block collapsed at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kottayam, claiming an individual's life and injuring two others on July 3. Earlier on Friday, a group of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) youth wing workers also staged a protest march outside the Kerala Health Minister's residence in Thiruvananthapuram. BJP workers also held a protest on Friday, demanding Minister George's resignation over the issue. Minister for Ports, Cooperation, and Devaswoms, VN Vasavan, described the Kottayam Medical College building collapse as an 'unfortunate' incident and announced that the Kerala government would provide immediate financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to the affected family. He said, 'CM visited the spot yesterday itself. Rs 50,000 will be given as immediate help to the family. The State Cabinet will discuss and decide on financial help for the family. Kottayam Medical College is one of the best-performing hospitals in India. The incident is unfortunate.' He further clarified that there was no lapse from the government side and added, 'Did not ask to stop rescue operation, it was for making way to let the Hitachi excavator enter. The rescue was only possible with the help of a machine.' 'The health minister said yesterday that nobody was stuck there because the hospital superintendent told the minister that the building was not in use,' he further said. Shifting the blame on the previous government of the United Democratic Front (UDF), he said, 'In 2013, the PWD (Public Works Department) submitted a report about the condition of the building. Then the UDF government did not act on it.' (ANI)
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Nandi Hills to get new glass-walled restaurant as tourist numbers climb: Report
The iconic Nandi Hills, one of Karnataka's most visited weekend getaways, is set to welcome a brand-new restaurant offering panoramic views and modern amenities, The Hindu reported. The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) is developing a new 200-seater facility. The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) is developing a new 200-seater facility, Mayura Sunrise, to meet the growing demands of tourism at the hilltop in Chikkaballapur district. According to the report, the project was officially launched when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah laid its foundation stone during a recent Cabinet session held on the hill itself, a symbolic gesture underscoring the government's focus on improving tourism infrastructure in the region. (Also Read: 'We are growing backwards': This viral 1980s Bengaluru photo leaves residents lamenting a lost city) The new restaurant is being built on the site of an older KSTDC structure that has now been demolished. The tourism body already operates the Mayura Pine Top hotel and restaurant nearby, but officials say the rising footfall has far outpaced its capacity, the report added. 'The existing facility can no longer handle the crowd. We're now building a modern restaurant with transparent glass windows that will allow visitors to enjoy the sunrise and valley views while dining,' said a senior KSTDC official according to the publication. According to data from the KSTDC, tourist numbers have surged in recent years. Around 19.48 lakh people visited Nandi Hills in 2023, and the number climbed to 21.32 lakh in 2024. Projections show the footfall could reach 23.35 lakh in 2025 and continue to rise to 31.98 lakh by 2028, growing at an estimated 9% annually, The Hindu reported. The restaurant is one of several key upgrades planned. A long-awaited ropeway project is expected to begin construction soon, and authorities are considering traffic curbs to protect the fragile hilltop. District in-charge Minister MC Sudhakar has proposed restricting private vehicle access, especially as part of the hilltop parking area is set to become a terminal for the ropeway. Tourist traffic to Nandi Hills has reached significant volumes during peak weekends. In December 2024 alone, over 12,700 vehicles and 21,000 two-wheelers made their way up the hill on weekends, raising concerns about congestion and environmental degradation.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Congress lacks the strength to convince T.N., while I can get PM's nod for Mekedatu project in five minutes: HDK
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday said the Congress government lacked the strength to convince the Tamil Nadu government on the Mekedatu project and that he could 'get the Prime Minister's approval for the project within five minutes'. There has been a war of words between Mr. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, with the latter challenging the former to help get clearances for the project from the Centre rather than continually criticise the Karnataka government. On Friday, speaking in Mandya, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that only the family of H.D. Deve Gowda could make the long-pending project a reality. 'I stand by my word' Speaking to reporters before participating in the DISHA committee meeting in Mysuru on Saturday, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, 'If the Congress government has any strength, let them get their ally in Tamil Nadu to agree to the Mekedatu project. I can get the Prime Minister's approval for this project within five minutes. I still stand by what I said during the election campaign.' Mr. Kumaraswamy had announced, ahead of Lok Sabha polls, that he would retire from politics if he failed to implement the Mekedatu project in the next five years, if elected to power. The Union Minister said in Mysuru that the Congress came to power through a padayatra in Mekedatu's name but had simply wasted two and a half years. 'How can the project be done if they just place the responsibility on me?' he asked. Lashing out at the Siddaramaiah-led government, the Union Minister said, 'The Congress is under pressure from its ally. It neither has the strength to convince the Tamil Nadu government nor the courage to oppose or defy the DMK. Only if it boldly defies Tamil Nadu government will the Mekedatu project become a reality'. 'Go beyond petty politics' Meanwhile, speaking in Bengaluru, Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil urged Mr. Kumaraswamy not to indulge in 'petty politics' over the Mekedatu issue, and instead, as a Union Minister, work constructively to help Karnataka get all the permissions for the project. 'Mr. Kumaraswamy is in the Union Cabinet and has an opportunity to help our State. Let him focus on it. Petty politics will only do harm to the larger interests of the State,' he said.
