Kerala power tariff hike: Government giving ‘electric shock’ to people, says Opposition Leader

Kerala's Leader of Opposition criticizes State government for power tariff hike, accusing corruption and negligence by Kerala State Electricity Board.

Kerala’s Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan has said that the State government has “given a shock” to the people through the recent power tariff hike.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday (December 7, 2024), he accused the government of foisting the burden caused by “the corruption and apathy” of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) on the people. “This government has raised the electricity charges five times since coming to power. Apart from the immediate raise of 16 paise, it has been declared that another 12 paise will be added at the start of the next academic year,” he said.

“A common man using up to 250 units of power will have to pay an extra of about ₹50. After next March, this would go past ₹100. Electricity charges have become unaffordable to people. Their burden will only increase when other charges, including fixed deposit, will also come into force from the next financial year,” he said.

The Oommen Chandy government had entered into a long-term agreement for buying power for ₹4.29 a unit. This agreement was in force for seven years. This government cancelled that agreement two years ago. Since then, power is being purchased at ₹6 to ₹12 per unit. This has inflicted the KSEB with a daily loss of about ₹15 crore to ₹20 crore and pushed it into a financial crisis, he said.

“The electricity board was in profit during the UDF rule. The board’s liability has increased from ₹1,083 crore to ₹45,000 crore by this year. The agreement from the Oommen Chandy government’s term was cancelled to give it to the Adani group,” alleged Mr. Satheesan.

“The project implemented in the board were all corrupt. The people are left to bear its brunt. The government and KSEB are responsible for the power tariff hike. The UDF and the Congress are set to hit the protest path demanding the rollback of the power tariff hike,” he said.

On the Kochi SmartCity project, Mr. Satheesan said that the government has not responded to the allegations raised by the Opposition with regard to Tecom. “How can the government justify paying undue compensation to the company citing the maintenance of cordial relations with the UAE government. The government attempt to engage in real estate business after making way for the exit of Tecom will not be allowed,” he said.