Centre’s amendment in Electricity Bill will affect consumers, says minister K Krishnankutty

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister K Krishnankutty said during the Q & A session in the assembly that if the centre amends the Electricity Bill despite the opposition of the state government, then the hike in electricity price every month will also affect the consumers of the state. At the same time, the minister said that it has not been noticed that the amendment of the rules affecting the operational authority of KSEB. The minister informed that KSEB had an operating profit of Rs 736.27 crore in the last financial year and as per the estimate till December 31, 2022, the board has to collect Rs 3,030.53 crore as arrears.

The projects have been identified to increase power generation by re-pumping water released from the dams. An agreement has been signed with THDC India limited for feasibility studies of Idukki and Pallivasal pumped storage projects. He added that no organization has been earmarked for the project and no central assistance is available. In order to solve the problem of urban waste management, the setting up of plants in 10 districts of the state to generate electricity from solid waste is in progress. The minister also informed that the project is being implemented in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam- Kuripuzha, Idukki- Munnar, Ernakulam- Brahmapuram, Thrissur- Ollukara, Palakkad, Malappuram- Tirur, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur.