Kochi, Sep 12 (PTI) Kerala will bring out a comprehensive new power policy in October to address the ongoing electricity crisis and achieve self-sufficiency in the sector, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said on Saturday.
Criticising a section of Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) employees for allegedly switching off power unnecessarily to worsen the ongoing crisis, Satheesan said action would be taken against those deliberately disrupting supply.
Speaking at an event here, he said the present crisis should be viewed as an opportunity to formulate a comprehensive power policy and find a permanent solution to the problem.
“There is an energy crisis at present and there are reasons for that crisis. I see this crisis as an opportunity to formulate a concrete power policy to solve the basic issue. We have to make use of this crisis to create a power policy and management,” he said.
A new policy in this this regard will be brought in October, he added. It would give greater importance to renewable energy, particularly solar power.
He said the increase in electricity demand was one of the reasons for the present crisis and stressed the need to shift towards non-conventional sources of energy.
“There is no electricity available at many places in the country to purchase. We are still returning the power we had purchased under the swap arrangement. There is no electricity available anywhere for purchase,” he said.
Satheesan said peak-hour management would be required for some time to deal with the situation.
He alleged that in some places power was being switched off unnecessarily four or five times a day by a section of employees with an intention to worsen the crisis.
“Some people are deliberately switching off power repeatedly, thinking that the crisis should worsen. This has come to our notice and action will be taken,” he said.
He also criticised a section of KSEB officials for their alleged resistance to renewable energy.
“When we talk about renewable energy, some people sitting in KSEB seem to get irritated. I do not understand why,” Satheesan said.
The chief minister also said the government would bring out a new electricity regulatory policy this month and asserted that it was taking responsibility for resolving the crisis rather than shifting the blame onto anyone. PTI LGK SA
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