Kerala heads for a power crisis

Kerala is heading for a peak time deficit of around 1,500 Mw, resulting in an acute power shortage.

The government has attributed the present crisis to the cut in its share from the central grid and stoppage of supply from the unallocated pool.

Terming the situation as alarming, the government has said that the state's sole reliance on hydel power is doing it in. The hydel power stations are currently not capable of meeting the growing demand for power.

The power department has already gone to the extent of saying that it would be forced to take hard measures if the state's due share from the central pool is not restored.

The state's average generation from hydro electric projects stood at 1,200-1,300 Mw as against the peak load demand of 2,700-2,800 Mw. It was pointed out that the deficit was partly offset by allocation from the central pool, which was stopped a few months back.

To add to the woes, as much as 50 Mw of power from the unallocated pool to the state was cut at a stretch last month. About a year back, the state was deprived of 133 Mw, which has not been restored since then, said the department.

The state is now left with the option of banking on small non-hydel projects as well as the NTPC thermal plant at Kayamkulam. This, in turn, would cost the state dear as the required power has to be purchased at a price of at least to Rs 7.90 a unit.