Solar power target: 200 mw in 5 years

In a bid to comply with the Union government’s direction that at least 2.4 per cent of total power consumed in the state should come from renewable sources, the cabinet on Thursday decided to set up 200 mw solar power plants over the next five years.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the cabinet, higher education minister Dr V.S. Acharya said the cost of power generation by such solar plants would be shared by ESCOMs and would not be a burden on consumers. “We have decided to go in phased manner and set up 40 mw units every year. At the end of five years, plants for production of 200 mw will be set up,’’ he added.

The government has made the estimation based on a similar unit set up near Kolar by the Union government. The 3 MW project was set up at a cost of around Rs 58 crore. Besides, the project had consumed a lot of place.

“We require a place which will have 245 days sun shine and there are many places in north Karnataka, which are suitable for such projects,”’ Dr Acharya said.

Meanwhile, the cabinet also decided to increase the share value of Karnataka State Minorities Development Corporation from Rs 100 crore to Rs 150 crore. This would help students from minority communities to make use of educational loan up to Rs 50,000 at a rate of two per cent rate of interest.

Besides, the cabinet also extended administrative consent to the corporation for raising internal resources to the tune of Rs 25 crore, for Haj Bhavan at Tirumenahalli, near Yelahanka. The government had already sanctioned Rs 15 crore and allotted 3acres for the building.

1992: 12th Place, 2010: 2nd Place Karnataka Marches ahead in Development!

Udupi, Nov 1: Accepting the challenge by the union law minister M Veerappa Moily to have a survey/review to bring out the truth of actual funds spent by the state government for the grants released by the central government towards union government sponsored programme, the Higher Education minister Dr V S Acharya on Monday November 1 said that the state government was ready for such a survey.

Replying to the criticism made by Moily on Saturday October 30 at Nitte that the second position given to Karnataka was not really a “Certificate” for the achievements in the developmental activities but only for spending the central grants whereas it's actul utilization will be known only when a survey will be conducted, Dr Acharya asserted that the state which was in 12th position in 1992 had today attained the second position in the entire country after Gujarat state in the successful implementation of 20 point programme of poverty alleviation.

“A small portion of grant had been given by the centre, while the state government has on its own had launched several innovative programmes. On the other hand, he said that the centre was yet to release grants under Rural Development (RD) programme. He said that for the first time in the country, the BJP government in the state had this year made available a whopping allocation of Rs 10,503 crore in the education sector. It had also attained the first position in terms of plan expenditure through mobilization of resources without taxing which was at 11 percent of GPDP.

He also stressed the need that besides, awareness about new aspects like financial literacy, computer literacy, web literacy, legal literacy and energy literacy, we need to have cultural and religious literacy to know about the cultural growth of Karnataka.

Referring to power situation, he said that Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) near Padubidri in the district, in its first stage of production had already producing 600 MW power. In the second stage, expected to be commenced by the end of December this year, an additional 600 MW would be added. Out of the total power produced by the UPCL, 10 percent production would be passed on to the national grid and remaining would be supplied to the MESCOM covering four revenue districts.

He said that there was an estimated loss of Rs 28 lakh due to the torrential rains that hit the district during the three days from October 21 to 23 which had severely damaged all major roads and National Highway. The district administration had already received Rs. 8 crore to take up the repair works. He said he had also specially asked the National Highway Authorities to take up the repair works at the earliest along with the ongoing work of construction of new bridges and culverts on the four lane project between Suratkal and Kundapur. Funds had also been released for the Rs 45 crore widening of Padubidri-Karkala (from 7.5 mt to 15.5 mt).

The revenue department had also given its approval for widening work between Kalsanka and Kallianpur
road, he added. The minister said that the work on the Rs 27 crore district administration complex at Manipal under the completion stage and planned to inaugurate by the end of December. In all Rs 22 crore had already been released, he said and added that a proposal is also before the government for the
construction of Circuit House in Udupi and Mangalore at the cost of Rs 3 crore.

27.10.2010: Experts want policy on sustainable development

BANGALORE: Urban governance experts on Wednesday called for a policy of sustainable development.

Speaking at the seventh anniversary of Centre for Sustainable development (CSD), Shekar Vishwanathan, deputy managing director, Toyota Kirloskar, said: "Sustainable development needs essential economic, social and environmental dimensions. Industries could do a lot towards sustainable development while citizens have a big social responsiblity especially towards environment. For instance, during the packaging of a car, beginning from the production till the delivery there is enormous amount of water used. So we told our dealers to recycle water."

Minister for higher education, V S Acharya, said: "We all know the importance of non-renewable resources and the need to preserve them."

TOI

Climate Change and its Impact on Natural Resources

Save Water

South Asia’s first solar power plant at Karnataka

South Asia’s first solar power plant in Yelesandra to generate 15,000 units per day

‘2,520 MW more power by March’

The State will have 2520 MW of additional power to its grid by March 31, next year, Home Minister Dr V S Acharya has said.

Speaking at a programme to dedicate the three-MW solar power plant at Yelesandra in Bangarpet taluk on Thursday, the minister said the power crisis in the State would ease TO some extent with the commissioning
of the solar plant.

“We hope that majority of the problems pertaining to power will be addressed with the additional generation expected by March next year,” the minister said.

Acharya said Karnataka had drawn the attention of the world by tapping of hydel power 108 years ago and the State was hogging he limelight once again with the setting up of first solar power plant in South Asia. The plant has been commissioned in a span of ten months, he said. (DHNS)

Cabinet meet 29.04.2010

Click here for Report from The Hindu

Over 5000 students attend workshop on Solid Waste Management

Karkala, Karnataka, Mar 15: The two-month long first-ever workshop on 'Solid Waste Management' conducted by Karkala Town Municipal Council concluded here. Addressing the valedictory function, Karnataka Home Minister, V S Acharya said the State Government had already implemented Solid Waste Management policy under 'Nirmala Kavacha' programme.

Dr Acharya said the Government was providing special incentives to those local urban bodies which have taken up primary and secondary waste collection followed by scientific management of solid waste.

The State Government had already banned use of plastic sachets upto 20 microns and planning to gradually ban the use of 30 and 40 micron plastic sachets in the State.ISRO environmental scientist Prof V Jagannath in his keynote address noted that people were still not aware about the importance of solid waste management. He said four urban bodies in the state-- Mangalore, Bhatkal, Shimoga and Shiriguppa-- were implementing solid waste management. This needs to be expanded to other urban bodies in the state. Stating that 100 kg of wet solid waste could produce 30 kg of manure after 40 days, he said people should be properly trained to segregate the solid waste at the initial stage.The elected representatives, police, Home Guards, NCC and NSS cadets should be involved in the process. This also needed political and religious commitment which was exhibited during the Mahamastakabhisheka held at Shravanabelagola in Hassan district where 500 wet and 500 dry solid waste baskets were used to keep the town clean during the event, he added. The workshop was attended by 5000 students from various schools and colleges and experts delivered speeches on scientific disposal of solid waste, segregation of waste and other issues, besides holding various competitions. (Mangalorean)

26.12.2009

Photos by Janardan Kodavoor

Delhi Diary

A high level delegation from Karnataka led by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today demanded an assistance of Rs 318 crore from the Centre to carry out flood relief measures in the state.
Talking to reporters after his meeting with various Central leaders, the Chief Minister said Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has promised to include five districts sought by the State Government for coverage under National Horticulture Mission. These districts were Bangalore Urban, Mandya, Davanagere, Havri and Gadag. He said the Centre also assured Karnataka that it would send a team to assess the flood damages caused to the agriculture crops due to excess rains and drought in some districts of the state. The delegation met Mr Pawar today morning in the capital.
The Chief Minister explained to Mr Pawar about the flood damage caused by excess rains in 24 districts and floods in seven districts resulting in loss of 150 lives and damage to 10,000 houses across the state. The drought was basically in plains of the state. "The damage due to floods is assessed at Rs 517 crore and we have sought a central assistance of Rs 318 crore to take up relief measures," Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said. He said the request for Rs 2,000 crore last year was not considered in the right spirit.
Power crisis
The delegation also met the Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. The chief minister explained how the state had to spend Rs 2,750 crore to purchase power at a very high cost of Rs 9.50 to Rs 10 a unit for ensuring smooth power supply. The state had sought the Centre ensure parity in terms of its allocations to Karnataka from its power generating units in the peninsula.
The state was getting a mere 20.5 per cent from the Central power units as against 31.6 per cent of Tamil Nadu and 26.19 per cent of Andhra Pradesh. The Centre should enhance its allocation by 500 MW to ensure fair share for Karnataka, Mr Yeddyurappa said.
The delegation also called on Union Minister from Karnataka, Mr Veerappa Moily and Oscar Fernandes and apprised them on the power crisis. The delegation included power minister Eshwarappa, Home Minister Dr VS Acharya, Tourism Minister Janardana Reddy, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Shobha Karandlaje and others.
Photo/Report: Mangalorean

Anti Development Lobbies

ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆ ಹೆಸರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಸೊತ್ತು ನಾಶ, ತೆರಿಗೆದಾರರ ಹಣ ಪೋಲು...ಚಿಂತೆ ಯಾರಿಗೆ?

ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ವಾಹನ / ಸಿಬಂದಿ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಲ್ಲೆ...ಕಳವಳಕಾರಿ!

ಇದೇ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ಚಿಂತಿಸಬೇಕಾದ ವಿಚಾರ:ಪರಿಸರದ ಹೆಸರಲ್ಲಿ, ಜನರ ಪುನರ್ವಸತಿಯಂತಹ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ವಿಚಾರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅನಾವಶ್ಯಕ ವಿರೋಧ/ ಭಯ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸಿ, ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ಉತ್ಪಾದನಾ ಘಟಕಗಳನ್ನು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಆರಂಬಿಸದಂತೆ ಒಂದು ವ್ಯವಸ್ತಿತ ಲಾಬಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಚರಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ! ಈಗ ಕೆಲಸ ಆರಂಭವಾಗಿರುವಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂಡ ಪದೇ ಪದೇ ಅದೇ ತಡೆ ಓಡ್ದಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಈ ಕೆಲಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ವಘೋಷಿತ ಪರಿಸರ ತಜ್ಞರು/ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿಗಳು , ಮುಂದುವರೆದ ದೇಶಗಳ, ವಿದೇಶಿ ಹಣ ಪಡೆದು ಕಾರ್ಯಾಚರಿಸುವ ಏನ್ ಜಿ ಓ ಗಳು ಕೈ ಜೋಡಿಸಿವೆ! ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಎಲ್ಲ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಮೂಲ ಶಕ್ತಿ. ಸಣ್ಣಕೈಗಾರಿಕೆಗಳು ಪರಿಸರ ಸ್ನೇಹಿ. ಕರಾವಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ಸ್ಯ ಉದ್ಯಮಕ್ಕೂ ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಬೇಕು.(ಐಸ್ ಪ್ಲಾಂಟ್ , ಶೀತಲೀಕರಣಕ್ಕೆ). "ಬುದ್ದಿವಂತರ" ನಾಡಾದ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ /ಕರಾವಳಿ ಪ್ರದೇಶ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ದಿ ಆಗುವುದನ್ನು ಸಹಿಸದ ಲಾಬಿಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಜನ ಎಚ್ಚೆತ್ತರೆ, ಅಭಿವೃದ್ದಿ ಸಾದ್ಯ.

People of Karnataka are troubled by Power crisis...frequent load shedding...Hydro electric power units face water shortage during summer months...

Self proclaimed environmentalists, anti establishment intellectuals, NGO`s thriving on grants from developed nations...sponsored lobbyists...are busy protesting against power projects...In the name of protests, they do not even hesitate to attack the police, destroy public property...Precious Tax money...

Read more on Power Crisis...

ಸ್ವಘೋಷಿತ ಪರಿಸರ ವಾದಿಗಳಿಂದ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ದಿ ತಡೆ

Solid waste management project inaugural...

An ambitious eco friendly project, starts today, delayed due to the irrational opposition...
An end to the "Dumping Yard" problems at Beedinagudde!

Udupi , Feb 22 The BJP government in Karnataka has planned to spend Rs 2,400 crore in the next two years for the civic infrastructure development both in urban and rural areas in the state.
Inaugurating Rs 4.82-crore solid-waste scientific processing unit at Karvalu-Alevoor on the outskirts of the city today, Home Minister Dr V S Acharya said under this plan, Rs 15 crore would be released to every city municipal council during the current year, whereas the town municipal councils would get Rs two crore if the respective urban bodies would submit their plans by April next.

The government would release 50 per cent of the fund immediately, he said.

He said Udupi city municipal council was the first among the 10 selected urban bodies for the Asian Development Bank- aided solid waste management project to be completed under Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Management project.

He said the garbage dumping yard in the heart of the city would stop functioning from tomorrow and all solid wastes here would be taken to the new disposal yard, where primary segregation and other processes would take place.

The present dumping yard would be converted into a cricket stadium and a public park after filling the land, which was expected to be completed in two years, he added.
Pics by Janardan Kodavoor

ನಗರ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಟೋ ಗ್ಯಾಸ್ ವಿತರಣಾ ಕೇಂದ್ರ: ಚಿಂತನೆ...

ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾವರ: ಸದ್ಯದ ನಿಯಮಾವಳಿಯಂತೆ ನಗರ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಟೋ ಗ್ಯಾಸ್ ವಿತರಣಾ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸ್ಥಾಪನೆಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶವಿರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಈ ನಿಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಸರಕಾರ ನಿಯಮಾವಳಿಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಪರಿಶೀಲನೆ ನಡೆಸಿ ಮುಂದಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಗರ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲೂ ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಅನುಮತಿ ಸಿಗುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡಲಾಗುವುದು ಎಂದು ರಾಜ್ಯ ಗೃಹ ಸಚಿವ ಡಾ.ವಿ.ಎಸ್. ಆಚಾರ್ಯ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಬ್ರಹಾಮವರದ ಭರಣಿ ಫ್ಯುಯೆಲ್ಸ್ ಎಂಡ್ ಸರ್ವಿಸಸ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ಗುರುವಾರ ಇಂಡಿಯನ್ ಆಯಿಲ್ ಕಾರ್ಪೋರೇಷನ್‌ರವರ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಪ್ರಪ್ರಥಮ ಅಟೋ ಎಲ್‌ಪಿಜಿ ಗ್ಯಾಸ್ ವಿತರಣಾ ಕೇಂದ್ರವನ್ನು ಉದ್ಘಾಟಿಸಿ ಅವರು ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.

ವಾಹನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್‌ಪಿಜಿ ಗ್ಯಾಸ್ ಬಳಕೆಯಿಂದ ಅರ್ಥಿಕವಾಗಿ ಲಾಭ ಪಡೆಯಬಹುದು ಹಾಗೂ ಅದರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಪರಿಸರವನ್ನು ಸ್ವಚ್ಛವಾಗಿರಿಸಬಹುದು. ಈ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸರಕಾರ ಗ್ಯಾಸ್ ಕಿಟ್ ಆಳವಡಿಕೆಗೆ ಎರಡು ಸಾವಿರ ರೂ. ಸಬ್ಸಿಡಿಯನ್ನು ನೀಡುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎಂದರು.
ಮುರಳೀಧರ್ ಸ್ವಾಗತಿಸಿದರು. ಭರಣಿ ಫ್ಯುಯೆಲ್ಸ್‌ನ ಜಿತೇಂದ್ರ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ ವಂದಿಸಿದರು. ಪ್ರಸನ್ನ ಕುಮಾರ್ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ನಿರೂಪಿಸಿದರು.

ಚಿತ್ರ ವರದಿ: ಗಲ್ಫ್ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗ