Expressing unhappiness over the Karnataka Government for not giving the right to way for power transmission projects, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said if the way had been given the Southern Grid capacity could have been expanded four times within five years.



Southern Grid transmission capacity, he said, was enhanced 89 percent in the last three years due to which states can draw power round the clock.



"I have committed to further double this capacity in the next 3 years. We would have expanded the capacity of Southern Grid four times five years...one project got delayed. We are not getting right of way, particularly in Karnataka.," Goyal told the media here while highlighting achievements made in last three years.



He said Karnataka, being strategically located, "I cannot take new transmission lines to Tamil Nadu and other Southern states (without passing through Karnataka). It is important that all states should give right of way".



As per the power sector performance released by the Ministry in Karnataka, energy shortage reduced to nil during the period April 2017 from 9.5% in 2013-14 and peak hour shortage reduced to nil during the period April 2017 from 7.2% in 2013-14. Out of 39 unelectrified villages (as on 1st April 2015), 23 villages have been electrified so far in the state.



The Minister also informed that during the ongoing summer season, southern states are not finding it difficult to buy power from exchanges because there is an improvement in transmission network and they were able to buy power for not more than Rs 3.5 per unit at exchanges.



For the past three years, major transmission lines connecting northern grid and southern grid have been commissioned, he said.