Protest against solar energy policy; Solar bandh announced

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The office bearers of the Masters Association, an organisation of entrepreneurs who have invested in the solar energy sector, said in a press conference that they will observe a solar bandh in Kerala on Thursday to protest the proposals in the new draft solar energy policy released by the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

All institutions operating in the manufacturing, marketing, installation and service sectors of solar plants in Kerala will remain closed on Thursday. Office bearers J.C. Lijo (General Secretary), Noufal Rosaiz (President), Rajesh Punnadiyil (Treasurer), B. Biju and B. Sasikumar (Secretariat Members) announced that they will organize a march and a dharna to the Electricity Regulatory Commission office in Vellayambalam. The office bearers pointed out that if the proposals in the policy are implemented, the electricity price will rise sharply and the industrial sector will be adversely affected.