Any student of Karnataka politics, cannot afford to miss this irrepressible politician and Vokkaliga leader, D.K. Shivakumar. In Congress circles, he is known as a go-getter. No doubt a highly successful politician, the recent power crisis in the state has taken some sheen off the reputation of the energy minister.
In an interview with DC, Mr Shivakumar forcefully defended himself saying his predecessors were to blame for the poor power resources and not him. But the crisis has brought to the fore the serious question whether a successful politician can always be a high performer in administration. Here are excerpts from the interview.
After Anna Bhagya and Ksheera Bhagya, people are saying you have given Kattale Bhagya (Dark hours)? Why has this happened?
We are a responsible government. In the past we were ahead in power production since the time of the Wadiyars. Even now, we can add 2000 MW of power from Shivanasamudra and Mekedatu. The other day we had a meeting in Delhi where we proposed to remove the mandatory NoC clause for Run-of-the-River schemes. The Centre said it would consider the request. I would like to request, Mr Ananth Kumar, Sadananda Gowda and Pralhad Joshi (BJP leaders) not to politicise the issue.
Politics apart, please join hands with us to remove the mandatory clause so that we can go ahead with the hydel projects. We asked for 1500 MW from the Centre. Let them help us get the corridor and central power. We are ready to pay money. If a power corridor was created long back, we would have brought power from anywhere. This crisis would not have happened. The crisis happened because nearly 2570 MW of power generation in various stations was stopped due to various reasons. This is the gift of the previous BJP government. In the last two years, we have done what could not be achieved in so many years.
When they (BJP) were in power, they used to blame their predecessors, Now, you are blaming the BJP. Your successor will tell the world if you did the right or wrong thing...
What our Opposition is complaining about today, they should have done when they were in power. They failed to pay the dues of Rs 16,000 crore to Karnataka Power Corporation Limited. The local bodies owe ' 3,500 crore to electricity supply companies. The BJP did not do anything to improve the power situation. After realising this, the CM has set aside Rs 7,200 crore in this budget for providing power to farmers. Since he is the finance minister and does his planning pretty well, we do not have a fund shortage. In the state, load shedding is not new. I have documents to show how many hours of load shedding was imposed by the previous governments.
You have been speaking about creating a corridor to bring power. The same issue was highlighted by your predecessors when they were in power. So, no one does anything to solve the problem..
There was stiff opposition to Kudgi power project. I sorted it out. We invested Rs 1,500 crore to create a corridor. There was a central act which came in the way of sorting out certain issues. I myself intervened and solved it. Now we can give high compensation to those who lose land for the power corridor. Without any hitch, we recruited 12,000 linemen and 2,000 engineers.
The question was about sorting out issues with other states like Maharashtra and Orissa to create a corridor. What have you done?
From my side, I sorted out all issues of Power Grid Corporation of India in Karnataka.
The meteorology department had predicted a weak monsoon this time. Didn’t the department prepare a back-up plan?
In fact, we had planned it. But, we did not know the monsoon will fail to this extent. Sixty five per cent of the space in our hydel reservoirs is empty.
In political circles, the buzz is that huge kickbacks change hands during the purchase of power..
No. We are very honest and transparent in the process. These opposition parties which make noise over this, bought power at '8 or '9 per unit when they were in power. I am buying power at just over Rs 5.08 per unit.
The demand you are referring to is grid demand. That is different from the real demand. Your figure does not factor in the original plan of giving three-phase power throughout the year. Can you give me the details of the real demand?
It is not easy. Till our farmers get ready to meter power and pay bills, this is impossible.
What is the status of the Chhattisgarh power project?
We have acquired land. They have to allocate coal. Without coal allocation, the previous government has done everything.
The Bidadi power project proposal has not moved from where it was ..
The issue is in court. We requested the court to vacate the stay. Somehow, it is not happening.
What is the transmission and distribution (T&D) loss now?
It has come down from 31 per cent to nine per cent.
As a politician you are very successful. You virtually uprooted your opponents, the Gowda family. But as an administrator, you have not reached the same level. Haven’t you felt guilty of inconveniencing the public?
You may think that I am a failure. I know what I am. I consider this as a challenge which I am doing. I am satisfied with what I am doing. I have revolutionised the system. We have brought transparency in energy department.
You are heading the House committee (constituted to look into the misappropriation committed by the previous regimes in purchase of power). What is the status?
We are meeting on September 20. We will finalise the report and submit it.
Who are the culprits?
How can I tell that now? At an appropriate time, I will reveal it.
Finally, hasn’t the government got a bad name because of the power crisis?
We are doing our job. When we get copious rains, the situation will be manageable. When we have no rains, this type of crisis is bound to happen. It is in the hands of nature, we cannot do anything. Some people pass comments, criticise us. But I think people know what the problem is.
