Thiruvananthapuram (Keralam) [India], October 14 (ANI): The Keralam Assembly witnessed heated exchanges between the ruling and Opposition fronts on Wednesday over the state's power crisis, alleged undeclared power cuts and a hike in charges for new electricity connections, with the Opposition staging a walkout after the Speaker rejected its adjournment motion.
The Opposition moved the motion alleging that the government had failed to address the electricity shortage and was burdening consumers with higher connection charges.
CPI MLA G R Anil presented the notice, accusing the government of allowing an artificial shortage and undeclared power cuts to affect consumers.
"Only five months into its tenure, the government has pushed people back towards power cuts. Unannounced cuts have affected people, with even surgeries having to be postponed. People do not know when the power will go off or how long the interruption will last," Anil said.
He alleged that the government had failed to explore options, including discussions with Tamil Nadu to secure additional electricity, and accused it of blaming the previous LDF government for cancelling a power purchase agreement to deflect criticism.
Replying to the notice, Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph rejected the Opposition's claim that Kerala had been free of power restrictions during the previous decade.
"The argument that there were no power restrictions during the last 10 years is incorrect. The previous government also faced an electricity crisis," Joseph said.
He attributed the current shortage to reduced rainfall and rising electricity consumption, saying demand had increased by around 2,000 MW over the past decade while generation capacity had risen by only about 150 MW.
The minister said Kerala generated only a small share of its total electricity requirement and depended on power purchases from outside the state because of inadequate progress on generation projects.
Joseph also criticised the cancellation of a 465 MW power purchase agreement that was expected to supply electricity for 25 years. He said the state had benefited from the agreement for seven years before it was cancelled and had borrowed 500 MW to meet demand during March and April.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan described electricity management as a major challenge, citing increased consumption and lower rainfall as reasons for the state's dependence on power purchases from other states.
He said the previous government had cancelled a long-term agreement for 465 MW of electricity at Rs 4.29 per unit, warning that consumers would ultimately bear the cost of purchasing power at higher rates.
Satheesan said the government would formulate a clear electricity policy, develop long-term projects and keep the Kerala State Electricity Board in the public sector. He also called for scrutiny of power purchase arrangements involving private companies, including those associated with Adani and Ambani.
After the government's response, Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan rejected the adjournment motion.
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan challenged the government's account of the power purchase agreement, alleging that the ruling side was attempting to shift responsibility for the crisis onto the previous LDF government.
Vijayan said the agreement had not been cancelled simply by the LDF government, arguing that the State Electricity Regulatory Commission had withheld approval because the required procedures and clearances had not been completed.
He said the regulatory process began in 2015 and subsequent decisions led to the agreement's cancellation in 2023. The LDF government later examined the possibility of restoring it, but the tribunal upheld the cancellation, prompting the state to approach the Supreme Court, he said.
Vijayan further argued that the previous government had faced a serious electricity crisis but had not imposed power cuts on any category of consumers, although the state had sometimes been forced to purchase electricity at higher rates.
He blamed the growing influence of large private companies in the power sector for contributing to the crisis and urged the government to pursue the Supreme Court case effectively.
The Chief Minister countered that the regulatory commission's decision had been taken by politically appointed members, triggering further exchanges between the treasury and Opposition benches.
Following the Speaker's rejection of the adjournment motion, Opposition members staged a walkout, protesting the denial of permission to discuss the power crisis through the motion. (ANI)
Keralam Assembly sees heated exchanges over power crisis; Opposition walks out after adjournment motion rejected
