Mangaluru: Karnataka state, which is often reeling under power crisis is now looking at solar power as an answer for the problem.
Speaking on these lines, Minister for Power D K Shivakumar, who was in the city to inaugurate the new administrative office of the Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (MESCOM), ‘MESCOM Bhavan’ built at the cost of Rs 25 crore, on Thursday, May 19 said that at one hand the state has the challenge of increasing power production, but on the other hand there are opposition to the various power projects from the environmentalists.

Given with this situation, the state has brought in the solar policy and using this policy, the state intends to augment its power production to 5000MW by end of 2018 as against the present requirement of 8000 to 10000 MW.

“We have also signed an agreement with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Pavagada solar park. With this power will be available at Rs 3.30 per unit. The same Solar Park project can be brought in Dakshina Kannada district as well,” he said adding that the government is determined to support installation of solar panels on permanent structures.

With regard to vacancies in the Electricity Department, the Minister said that out of the total 25,000 vacancies, 12,000 vacancies have been filled while the remaining will be recruited within next six months.

Mangaluru south MLA J R Lobo urged the Minister to have new policies in place for recruiting linemen to the department.

District in-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai, MLC, Ivan D’souza, Mayor Harinath among others were present.