Karnataka Faces ₹77.31 Cr Loss as Rains Damage Power Infrastructure

Quick Summary

• Karnataka’s power infrastructure faces persistent damage during pre-monsoon and monsoon months (April-June), largely due to maintenance issues.
• In 2025, 42,209 electrical poles and 1,802 transformers were damaged; escoms replaced most of them at a cost of ₹77.31 crore.
• Past figures for 2024 reveal greater losses: over 53,816 electric poles and 3,924 transformers damaged between April-November with expenses reaching ₹156 crore.
• Root causes cited by experts include lack of regular maintenance protocols, improper construction practices (e.g.,insufficient pole burial depth),poor tension assessments,and unpredictable weather patterns.
• Outsourcing construction to contractors without strict adherence to guidelines has compounded the issue.
• Energy minister K.J. George announced measures including pre-monsoon maintenance planning and stocking supplies for quicker restoration.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

The recurring damage to Karnataka’s power infrastructure signals deep systemic challenges in how maintenance and construction are handled.Experts suggest that lax oversight by electricity companies (escoms) combined with insufficient adherence to construction guidelines has amplified the vulnerabilities in the system.The shift from government-supervised installation practices to contractor-led projects without adequate auditing seems especially problematic.

Proactive steps such as predictive maintenance plans ordered by Energy Minister K.J. George are promising on paper but will require consistent implementation across all escom jurisdictions if they are to mitigate future disruptions effectively.Failure could leave large swathes of consumers vulnerable during extreme weather events at important financial costs-factors that highlight an urgent need for better regulatory enforcement in India’s energy sector.