No more power tariff hike during UDF term

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There will not be any further power tariff hike in the state during the term of the present UDF government, power minister Aryadan Muhammed assured the Assembly on Thursday.

“The allegations that power tariff will be hiked after the local body elections were baseless. I assure that no more hike in power tariff will be made by this government. Also, surcharges will not be increased," said the minister while replying to a notice for an adjournment motion in this regard.

He also said the government was willing for an all-party meeting to evolve consensus on setting up coal-based power projects in the state. A scheme to supply two LED lamps to families of SC/ST community members as a replacement for ordinary lamps was being finalised so that power consumption could be brought down.

The minister clarified that though there were indications of power tariff revisions, those were only to give the annual report to the Electricity Regulatory Commission on measures being taken to cover the revenue losses of the KSEB.

At present, about 102 per cent of the revenue of KSEB was being spent on power purchase. As a result, load shedding could be minimised in the state over these years, he said.

CPM MLA and former power minister A. K.  Balan, who gave the notice for the adjournment motion, alleged that many industrial units were being shut down owing to the power tariff hike. Speaker N. Sakthan denied permission to the adjournment motion.