Stage set for open tussle between KSEB & unions

Thiruvananthapuram: Stage is getting ready for another open tussle between unions and the Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd over the implementation of smart meters. The pro-Left unions and pro-Congress unions have decided to protest the TOTEX model smart meter implementation.
The national co-ordination committee of electricity employees and engineers would hold a convention on May 9 to announce the protest programmes against the KSEB’s move, which the associations have been opposing. The TOTEX model, they point out, would backfire on KSEB in the long run and it would help private players to have complete grip over the key business activities of the government-run KSEB.
The unions accuse the KSEB management of turning a blind eye to the pitfalls behind the TOTEX model which allows private companies to install smart meters and collect money from consumers directly.
Though the government had promised to look into the concerns and a committee was set up to study the issue, the KSEB management was not ready to discuss the report with the unions or consider the recommendations in the report, the union leaders said.
The convention is being organised in view of KSEB going ahead with the tendering process for TOTEX model smart meters. CITU state secretary Elamaram Kareem, CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran and INTUC state president R Chandrasekharan would attend the convention planned at BTR Memorial hall.