Private touch to tide over crisis: Minister

BANGALORE: Even as the state government is being blamed for its mismanagement of electricity supply and generation, several private players have come forward to shoulder the responsibility of managing electricity supply in the limits of all urban local bodies (ULBs) in the state.Informing this to the media here on Friday, Minister for Municipal Administration Balachandra Jarkiholi said that several companies have approached the state government to take up electricity management either on private public partnership (PPP) model or build, operate and transfer (BOT) model.The state government had asked them to submit detailed proposals before taking any decision on the issue.There are 209 urban local bodies in the state and about Rs 400 crore is being spent on electricity consumption by them every year. “If we find private proposals effective and beneficial, then we will go ahead, otherwise not,” Balachandra Jarkiholi said.When asked if drinking water supply was affected in any of the ULBs due to power cuts in the state, the Minister for Municipal Administration said that he had reviewed the situation recently and there was nothing to be panic. “However, I have directed officials to be alert and address the problems as and when they arise,” Jarkiholi added.JARAKIHOLI’S MAIDEN BELLARY VISITTwo months after he was appointed as the in-charge of Bellary and Raichur districts, Minister for Municipal Administration Balachandra Jarkiholi is visiting these two districts from Monday.“I am visiting Bellary and Raichur from Monday and will hold KDP meeting in both the districts,” Jarakiholi said.Jarakiholi and former minister B Sriramulu, who hails from Bellary, share a cordial relationship.Now that Sriramlu’s relations with the ruling BJP have soured, Jarakiholi was in a dilemma whether to accept or reject his appointment as in-charge minister of the two districts.Which was why he did not even attend the Independence Day celebrations.“I did not visit the districts due to political reasons.Now I have got them cleared,” he said.

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