The Hindu Business Line : No power cut this year, says Kerala Minister

He said in the Assembly on Friday that the water storage in the States' hydel reservoirs was lower than last year at present. As against the storage equivalent to 3,637.55 MW on September 27 last year, it stood at 2,850.17 MW on the same day this year.

However, the total power requirement was proposed to be met from the State's hydel sources and thermal plants as also through its share from the central pool, the Minister said and added that the power from the State's thermal plants was used only sparingly due to the higher cost of generation.

The Government was planning to avoid restrictions on power supply by streamlining the generation at the hydel and thermal projects in tandem with the progress in south-west and north-east monsoons, Mr Balan said in reply to questions.

He pointed out that the difficult situation on the State's power front was caused by the inability to increase generation by taking up new projects to meet the rising demand.

The additional capacity created during the previous Government's tenure was a meagre 106.60 MW, whereas the LDF government prior to that was able to add 1,037.11 MW to the State's capacity.

In reply to a question on the financial position of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), the Minister said that as per the provisional estimates for 2005-06, the board made a profit of Rs 101.25 crore by including a subsidy amount of Rs 144.58 crore.

But, the Government owed a total subsidy of Rs 4,485.34 crore till 2005-06 and if this was also taken into account, the board had an accumulated loss of Rs 3,892.15 crore, he said.

In reply to another question, the Minister said that a free power scheme was in force for those consumers with a connected load up to 500 watts and consuming less than 20 units a month.

However, power supply had been disconnected in the case of consumers in this category who consumed more than the prescribed 20 units and failed to pay the bill for it.

The connection would be restored to these consumers after settling the arrears, the Minister said.