Bangalore, June 18: Karnataka today said it has reduced load shedding in rural areas from 17 hours to 11 hours effective tomorrow, following improvement in power situation due to restoration of the Talcher-Kolar Power Link. "We have decided to reduce the load shedding from 17 hours to 11 hours based on the improvement of power situation. We will also provide single phase electricity from 7 to 11 pm, three phase power from 11 pm to 5 am and during day every three hours alternatively," Karnataka Minister for Energy Basavaraj Patil Humnabad told reporters here.

The five hour load shedding in urban areas would continue. Patil said the 210 MW RTPS-1 unit was expected to restart operations from tomorrow and the government in consultation with electricity department officials would review the situation on June 21.

Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd managing director K N Shrivastava said nearly 71 million units of power was available in the state from various sources. Bureau Report