Bengaluru: If all goes well, the department of energy will make arrangements to supply LED bulbs at Rs 50 per each bulb and tube lights at Rs 250 to consumers as part of its drive to conserve energy, according to Minister for Energy D K Shivakumar.

Participating in an interactive programme organised by Bengaluru Press Club here on Saturday, Minister Shivakumar said the target of supplying LED bulbs was six crore and 1.50 crore LED bulbs were already supplied to the consumers and the department of energy would make to supply the remaining LED bulbs at cheaper price. “As of now, LED bulbs are being supplied at Rs 90 per each bulb. We have decided to supply LED bulbs at cheaper price. We are in talks with Philips to supply LED bulbs at Rs 50 per bulb.We are also contemplating to supply tube lights at Rs 250 per each to the consumers as part of,” Minister Shivakumar said.

The minister said the energy department has taken measures to increase the capacity of Shivasamudra hydro project and a detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared for this purpose. “The capacity of Shivasamudram hydro project would be increased by using the method of run-of-the-river. We are planning to reduce the investment to less than Rs 1,000 crore to avoid legal issues with the neighbouring state,” the minister said.

He said the energy department would take all measures to ensure power supply in Bengaluru during the summer season. “Last year we have purchased power at the rate of Rs 5.08 per unit. Now, we are in talks with power suppliers to purchase the power at the rate of Rs 4.70 per unit. We have given the contract to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to set up 375 MW LPG-based power plant at an estimated cost of Rs 1500 crore near Yelahanka,” he said.

He also said the state government has decided to set up 1200 MW thermal plant in Gulbarga.

On becoming KPCC president

Minister D K Shivakumar said that he was ready to take up any responsibility given by Congress high command. “I do not know what Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had discussed with Congress high command. So far, no one has discussed about it. Being a disciplined Congress activist, I am ready to take up any responsibility. I religiously obeyed Congress high command all these years. I agreed when Congress leaders wanted me to be away from the Cabinet. I agreed when they told me to take rest for a while. I also agreed to become active when they asked me,” Shivakumar said.

Steel flyover

Coming down heavily on BJP for opposing the construction of steel flyover between Basaveshwara Circle and Hebbal, Minister Shivakumar said the proposal for the steel flyover was made during the BJP regime. “I have no objection for the people expressing their opinion. There was opposition when Kengal Hanumanthaiah wanted to construct Vidhana Soudha. There was objection when |Devaraja Urs wanted to introduce reforms. So, we need not worry about the opposition. The construction of steel flyover is the government’s decision to reduce traffic problems,” he said.