Hike in power tariff is inevitable: Shobha

BANGALORE: State Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje said on Wednesday that the Energy Department has been forced to seek a hike in power tariff due to the high cost of power and coal. On the sidelines of the signing ceremony of the power purchase agreement between Energy Department and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for a 100 MW wind energy project, Shobha said the ESCOMs have sought an 88 paisa per unit hike.“We have been forced to import coal for the thermal plants in Raichur, Bellary and Udupi. We are also providing quality power to the farmers, so there is no option but to seek increase in tariff,” Shobha added.In the last hike, Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission had allowed only 22 paisa increase, though ESCOMs had sought an 80 paisa hike to make up for their revenue deficits, she added.Shobha hit out at the Central government for the delay in providing coal linkage due to which many of the power projects in the state have been affected.“We have been repeatedly requesting the Union government to allocate coal linkage for Chhattisgarh, Yermarus, Yedlapur and Bellary Thermal Power Stations, but till now it has not happened due to which these projects have been delayed,” she added.