Karnataka govt decides to waive ₹389 Cr arrears of beneficiaries of three power schemes

Karnataka Energy Minister KJ George also said the government had called tenders for solar substations and seven bidders have been shortlisted.

Published on: Nov 22, 2023, 10:46:38 IST

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The Karnataka government has decided to waive arrears to the tune of ₹389 crore of 'Kuteera Bhagya', 'Bhagya Jyoti' and 'Amruta Jyoti' scheme beneficiaries who were either getting power free of cost or at a highly subsidised rates, Energy Minister K J George said on Tuesday.

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It has already merged these three schemes with its ambitious 'Gruha Jyoti' scheme offering free electricity up to 200 units to residential power connections.

"Earlier, beneficiaries of 'Kuteera Bhagya' and 'Bhagya Jyoti' were getting 40 units and 'Amruta Jyoti' beneficiaries 75 units. We have decided that those getting 40 units will now get 50 units plus 10 units and those getting 75 units will get an additional 10 per cent," George told reporters.

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"There were huge arrears of ₹389 crore of the beneficiaries of 'Kuteera Bhagya', 'Bhagya Jyoti' and 'Amruta Jyoti' schemes. I spoke to the Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) and he decided to waive it," the Minister explained.

George also told reporters that the government had called tenders for solar substations and seven bidders have been shortlisted who will provide 750 MW.

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The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission has fixed a rate of ₹3.17 per unit, the Minister said, adding, many farmers at Pavagada in Tumakuru district have come forward to provide 8,000 acres of land to those generating solar power.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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