Karnataka will build a gas-powered plant at Bidadi near Bangalore to meet the ever-increasing demand for power by the corporate giants. The 1,400 Mw combined gas cycle plant will have four units of 350 Mw each. Sourcing for the gas is under finalisation. The project is estimated to cost Rs 3,750 crore. Energy minister Shobha Karandlaje, on Thursday told reporters at Dharwad, this gas power plant would be exclusively for Bangalore city. Of the power produced in the state, 45 per cent is being utilised by the people in Bangalore. “As the city is fast expanding and big companies are stepping into the state for setting up their plants, there is an ever-increasing demand for power. Hence, the tender process for setting up this plant would be completed this month-end and chief minister Jagadish Shettar will perform the bhumi puja for the construction of the plant next month,” Shobha explained. Shobha claimed that the BJP government in last four and half years has given more importance to power generation. Some Rs 11,000 crore has being utilised on setting up power stations, upgrading the existing lines and tapping alternate sources for the production of power. “The third unit of the Yaramaras power plant near Bellary has got a green signal from the department of environment and Pollution Control Board and the works are fast progressing. Officials have been directed to complete the work within stipulated time and start power generation by next year,” she said. Lashing out at the Centre, Shobha stated that due to the wrong coal policies of the Union Government, several states in the country were facing power crises. The Centre is supplying only 60 per cent of the total coal demand of the state. “The Centre has taken a few wrong steps in coal mining, forcing the environment ministry to stop permitting mining. The Congress leaders representing the state at the national-level should exert pressure on the Centre and rectify mistakes in coal policies, she added. Due to a shortage of coal, several power projects are getting affected severely,” she said. The KPTCL will recruit 2,000 engineers and 2,500 linemen shortly, said energy minister Shobha Karandlaje. Laying the foundation stone for the 110 kV power sub-station near the University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad, she said the KPTCL was facing a staff crunch to the extent of 50 per cent. She said there will be no 33 kV sub-stations and all the stations would be upgraded. Steps would also be taken to prevent power theft by adopting modern technology.