Kerala government gearing up to avoid power cuts during summer

The govt had initiated steps for the purchase of 150 MW of power to meet the soaring demand during the peak summer months

With hydel generation likely to be affected in view of steep fall in inflows into reservoirs due to drop in rainfall, Kerala government has prepared a contingency plan to avoid power cut or load shedding during the next summer season.

There would be no power cut or load-shedding during the summer season. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has prepared a contingency plan to ensure availability of the requisite quantity of power to meet the state's demand, state Power Minister Kadakampally Surenderan said here on Sunday.

"(As part of the plant) KSEB is not utilising the full capacity of hydel project now. We are storing the water for lean days," he said.

Admitting that the inflow into reservoirs in the state has come down drastically, he said it had slowed down to 45 per cent of the normal rate.

The government had initiated steps for the purchase of 150 MW of power to meet the soaring demand during the peak summer months of April and May.

"The final tender process for the purchase of power is on," he said.

Efforts were also on to get 200 MW of renewable energy as per the Centre's guidelines, he said.

"Requisite quantity of power would be ensured," he said.

There has been a drastic drop in rainfall this monsoon compared to previous years and this was the lowest inflow into dams in the last 10 years, official sources said.