Oppn leader argued that a long-term deal secured during Chandy’s tenure to procure 465 MW of power at a cost of Rs 4.29 per unit was arbitrarily cancelled
Thiruvananthapuram
Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan on Saturday alleged that the emerging power crisis in Kerala and reports of unannounced load shedding were the result of flawed decisions by the state government.
He accused the ruling front of scrapping long-term electricity purchase agreements and claimed that corruption may have influenced the move. Satheesan strongly criticized the government, stating that the current situation has caused significant inconvenience to people, especially amid intense summer heat. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of any power restrictions and warned that the United Democratic Front would launch strong protests if the outages continue. According to him, frequent disruptions in electricity supply have become a serious concern for residents across the state.
The Opposition leader also questioned the ruling Left Democratic Front’s claim of ensuring uninterrupted power supply over the past decade under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He argued that a long-term agreement secured during the tenure of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, which allowed procurement of 465 MW of power at an average cost of Rs 4.29 per unit, was arbitrarily cancelled.
Satheesan alleged that due to this decision, the state is now forced to purchase electricity at significantly higher rates ranging between Rs 6 and Rs 12 per unit. He claimed that this has resulted in daily financial losses of Rs 15–20 crore for the Kerala State Electricity Board. He further alleged that private companies benefited from the decision and demanded a detailed probe into the matter.
Responding to the allegations, Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty denied that there is any unannounced load shedding in the state. He clarified that only natural regulation is being carried out when the power grid faces overload. According to the minister, electricity consumption has crossed 6,195 MW, forcing the state to procure power at higher costs to meet demand.
Krishnankutty emphasized that the government is making efforts to avoid a tariff hike and urged consumers to use electricity responsibly. He also rejected criticism of the LDF’s earlier claims, stating that the current strain on power supply is part of a broader national trend driven by rising temperatures and increased demand.
In a pointed response to the Opposition, the minister attributed the surge in consumption to extreme weather conditions, suggesting that nature itself is responsible for the current stress on the system. He expressed confidence that the situation would stabilize within a couple of days.
Meanwhile, complaints of frequent short-duration outages, particularly during nighttime, are being reported from various parts of Kerala. A high-level meeting convened by the Chief Minister is expected to review the situation as the state continues to grapple with peak summer electricity demand.
