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Udupi: COO of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) Jayadev Nanda said that the UPCL which runs two thermal power plants of 600 MW each was putting all efforts to clear the silt in its pipelines.
 
 The two units located at Yellur in the district were shut down on August 8 after silt got accumulated in the pipelines that were carrying water from the Arabian Sea to the plants.
 Nanda was speaking at a press conference on Monday August 24 in the presence of Minister of Energy DK Shivakumar.
 
 Nanda added that the work was difficult as the sea was rough. On August 11 and 12 attempts were made to reach the intake point, but both failed. However, on August 13, though the pipeline was located, much could not be done due to bad weather conditions.
 
 Nothing was done between August 14 and 17. But on August 17, a private company that was hired for the purpose, decided to arrange for a vessel that could anchored in the sea to facilitate the rectification process and at present the work was under progress, Nanda said.
 
 Shivakumar, speaking after the presentation said that the operations might take a long time and they could not wait for a month or two. He said that the UPCL had to examine if there were possibilities of getting water from other sources to begin operating one of its 600 MW plant.
 
He added that if there was a source, then pipelines had to be installed; instruction were been given to provide cooperation to the UPCL.
 
 MLA Pramod Madhwaraj urged Shivakumar to provide round-the-clock power supply to taluks which had thermal plants.
 
 Shivakumar noted that people in districts under the Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM) were prompt in paying electricity bills. With regard to the MESCOM region, the bill payment rate was as high as 97%.
 
 He said that he would consider the suggestion given by the MLA as it would be an encouragement.