Power crisis in State linked to weak transmission lines

August 28, 2015

Bengaluru, Aug 28: Union Minister of State for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal, on Thursday said the Centre had not been able to bail out Karnataka from power crisis because of constraints in its transmission lines.

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Addressing reporters after chairing a review meeting with Karnataka Energy Minister D K Shivakumar and senior department officials, he said the Centre was ready to supply more power to the State, but Karnataka did not have adequate capacity of transmission lines within the State.

There is also a need to increase the capacity of transmission corridors in the entire southern region, he said.

“The country has surplus power now. And power is available at very competitive prices. I have urged the State to expand its transmission capacity so that it can also buy power at cheaper prices, he stated, adding that increasing the capacity was a long-term work and required a minimum of four to five years.

The State currently has about 6,400 mega watts (MW) of power available against the total requirement of 8,000 MW. The State is facing power supply shortage mainly due to decline in the water level in hydel reservoirs and outages in the Udupi Power Corporation Ltd and the Ballari Thermal Power Stations in the last few days. The electricity supply companies have resorted to buying 1,000 MW from the open market at Rs 5.08 per unit at a total estimated cost of Rs 3,400 crore.

The minister said steps were being taken to increase the capacity of transmission corridors in South India by 2,000 MW in the next few months. Besides, the Centre will soon bid to increase the capacity by additional 6,000 MW in the South. “The Centre and the State governments have already sorted out several issues to expeditiously complete transmission corridors and transmission lines which are very critical for power supply,” he added.

Additional coal supply

Goyal, however, said the Centre would extend all help to the State to ramp up power generation at its thermal power stations. Additional coal supply will be made to the State, if necessary, in order to ensure that all thermal power plants work to their full capacity in the coming days, he added.

He said the Centre was taking steps to operationalise coal block allotted to the State in Maharastra at the earliest. Issues related to operationalising another coal block allotted to the State in West Bengal will be sorted out soon. In the coming days, the Centre will try to allot separate coal blocks to the states to prevent any confusion, he added.

Solar power plant

This apart, the minister said the Centre would extend full support to the State to implement the proposed solar power plant of 2,000-MW capacity at Pavagada in Tumakuru, which will be the largest in the country.

The Centre will give Karnataka Rs 1,700 crore to separate feeders for supplying powers to farmers and achieve 100 per cent electrification, he said.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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News Network
December 16,2025

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Melkar (Bantwal): The 9th Annual Day celebration of SMR Public School, titled “EXCELLENTIA”, was held on December 15 with great enthusiasm and dignity, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards academic excellence and holistic development.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. U. T. Iftikar Ali. The chief guests were Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Mr. P. Moosabba Beary, Mr. Zakaria Jokattre, and Dr. T. M. Abdul Rahuf—whose inspiring addresses motivated the students and appreciated the school’s contributions to education.

Mr. Abdul Nasir, Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar, Mr. Razak Golthamajal, Mr. Sali Koya, Mr. Arshad Hussain, Mr. Ismail Balanoor, Mr. Feroz Bawa, Mr. Sahul Hameed, Mr. Abubakkar, Mr. Hameed K. Mani, Mr. Abdul Majeed (Principal, Melkar Women’s College), and Mr. Abdul Lathief (Former Principal, Melkar Women’s College) were the guests of honour.

The Annual Report was presented by the Headmistress, Ms. Fathimathul Zaheera, highlighting the school’s achievements and progress during the academic year. The Presidential Address was delivered by the Chairman of SMR Public School, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasised the vital role of education in shaping students’ futures and stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving 100 per cent academic results.

Secretary of SMR Public School, Mr. Rifath Ahmed, and PTA President, Mr. Sandeep Kumar, were also present on the occasion.

The Annual Day celebration showcased the collective efforts of students and teachers and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to quality education and all-round development. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers for their support. The 9th Annual Day—EXCELLENTIA—was a memorable and successful event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present. 

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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