'There was no advance planning'; power cuts reported across India, says CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said power cuts are being reported across India and that additional electricity is not available from outside the state. He said there was no advance planning despite indications that monthly power consumption would rise. He also said a detailed meeting would be held tomorrow to ensure adequate power availability from next month.

“Cancelling the 465 MW power purchase agreement during the previous Left government was a mistake. It was clear by June itself that there would not be enough power to meet the demand during peak hours this month. The efforts now being made to ensure power availability should have been taken earlier. An additional 150 MW will soon be made available from a nuclear power station,” the Chief Minister said.

The Centre had said the other day that it could not provide more electricity to address the state's power shortage. Kerala is currently receiving around 1,600 MW from the grid and is trying to secure more. The Centre provided an additional 50 MW, but warned the state against seeking more power.

KSEB officials had held discussions by visiting Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha, but the efforts did not yield results. Kerala had also secured 200 MW from Madhya Pradesh under a swap agreement, but that power has not been available for the past week.