Power Minister M.M. Mani has hinted at a hike in power tariff in view of the ₹7,300 crore debt burden faced by Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) Ltd and 70% purchase of power from outside through short and long-term pacts.
“Consumers will have to bear the burden of the hike and it is inevitable. Nearly 99.9% of the revenue of KSEB is from tariff and hike has to be effected,’’ the Minister said at a press conference here on Tuesday.
Mr. Mani said KSEB may face financial crisis and would have to depend on the State exchequer for remaining afloat if the power tariff was not hiked.
₹4,035.57 crore project
A ₹4,035.57 crore project will be rolled out by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on June 14 to reduce transmission loss and provide hassle-free electricity to consumers. Named Dyuthi 2021, the Minister said the project, to be completed in 2021, aims at modernising electric lines using new technology and easy detection of faults in the lines.
Smart meters would be installed for domestic consumers for consumption more than 200 units under the Uday scheme of the Centre. The cost of installation will be borne by the KSEB.
A wave energy project will be launched off Vizhinjam coast, the Minister said. Emphasis would be given to solar energy and small hydro electric projects to meet the energy needs.
On the Athirappilly project, the Minister said the government was of the view that the project should be implemented. The Congress was opposing it and the CPI had reservations about the project. The project could be implemented only if there was a consensus, he said.
The KSEB would resume all power projects that had been held up for a host of reasons, Mr. Mani said, adding that the Pallivasal project had technical problems. The Minister said the KSEB suffered a loss of ₹12 core on account of the recent rain havoc as 6,000 electric posts were damaged and connections of three-lakh consumers were disrupted.