The ambitious programme to supply 24 hours power for irrigation pump sets and street lighting in rural areas will be inaugurated by Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on January 16 in Karnataka. The Programme known as Nirantharajyothi or Continuous power is modeled on the one introduced in Gujarat. The first phase will cover rural areas in 74 talukas at a cost of 1,204 crore rupees. The second phase covering rural areas in 54 talukas will be launched at a cost of 920 crore rupees in March. The State Government is planning to implement the entire programme by the end of 2010. The power Minister in the State Eeshwarappa has said that the scheme will bifurcate the supply network of IP sets from non agricultural consumer, which would reduce energy losses from 32% to about 17% thereby saving energy. The misuse of power can be avoided under the scheme as 928 feeders in the first phase and 687 in the second phase would be installed for the distribution of power. Mr. Eshwarappa has said that the pilot project of the scheme being implemented at Malur in Kolar District had been functioning satisfactorily. The state reeling under severe power shortage despite of good monsoon, stand to gain from the programme. While the daily demand of power was 130 million units in Karnataka, power available through all sources was only 118 million units.