Since more and more electric vehicles are coming up shortly, Karnataka will have electricity recharge centres across the state, said Karnataka Minister for Energy, Kannada and Culture V Sunil Kumar on Tuesday.
“As more electric vehicles are coming up, electricity recharge centres will be opened all over the state. We have given the responsibility to various Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) to open recharge centres at the district centres and tourist centres,” Kumar told reporters at the BJP state headquarters Jagannath Bhavan in Bengaluru.
In early June this year, In response to provide a push to the electric mobility sector, the Karnataka Government amended Karnataka Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy, 2017, by presenting subsidies and incentives to component manufacturers. This move came in with a view to make Karnataka led other states.
Also, the government took steps to encourage the production of EV components in the state. “Production linked subsidy of 1 per cent will be given on the company’s turnover for a period of five years beginning from the first year of commercial operations, subject to a maximum cap of 50 per cent of VFA,” the Government Order, issued on June 1 by the Commerce and Industries Department said.
Separately, when talking about the energy demand by farmers, he said a continuous seven-hour power supply was required for agricultural pumps.
Thus, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) will build over 60 sub-stations in 100 days to enable continuous electricity supply for agricultural pumps.
The minister said he has chalked out a 100 days programme where electricity will be provided to rural households, where there is no supply of electricity. This programme will be executed under the ‘Belaku’ project (Light), as per the wish of the chief minister.
Kumar further stated that his department will establish a ‘Transformer Bank’ to replace the faulty transformers. This bank will enable the replacement of the damaged transformers in just 24 hours.
The minister who also holds Kannada and Culture portfolio said a trend of applying for the Rajyotsava Award should not be encouraged so much so that the tradition of identifying the achievers across the state should start.