BANGALORE: Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje has assured that there may no be a situation to resort to load shedding during the summer as efforts are being made to augment power supply from various sources.“It is estimated that the state would need about 1,82,000 million units of power to cater to the demand of the people in the summer. As of now, we are comfortable with 1,75,000 lakh million units. I am holding talks with the sugar industries to get more power,” Shobha Karandlaje said while speaking to reporters on Saturday.She also said that the transmission lines are being upgraded and strengthened to ensure proper supply of power without any pilferage. “A detailed plan has been chalked out to improve the lines in phases. We still have three months for the onset of summer,” the energy minister added. Shortage of PersonnelOn the issue of shortage of personnel in various Escoms, Shobha said the process to recruit 2,000 linemen has started. “The recruitment is fool-proof and is being made strictly on qualification and merit. There is no scope or role for any touts in getting jobs for monetary considerations. I appeal to the people to directly write to me if anybody is found taking money and assuring job of linemen,” the minister for energy explained. The number of linemen each Escoms would get are Bescom 580, Chamundeshwari 187, Gescom 235 and Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) 85. According to her, steps are being taken to ensure that each gram panchayat will get at least one lineman where as at present there is one linemen for three gram panchayats because of which the day-to-day work has suffered. “There is a need for recruiting personnel at the middle-level such as JEs and AEEs. I will hold talks with the finance department before finalising the process of recruitment,” Shobha added.
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