THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has turned against the government for imposing load shedding in the state. A situation to avoid load shedding should be made by fully utilising electricity from the central pool, arranging additional power from centre and by buying power from other states. Instead of that going for a load shedding is to harm the people, he said.

There is no doubt that it is the government's fault to restrict power during the rainy season, he said at the press meet convened here.

The departmental minister said lack of water in dams led to the need for power regulation. We are admitting that rains were low so far, but what was the reason for the water to get reduced in dams. Why are they not able to store water in dams? Last year, when the dams were full, not draining excess water led to the floods. Lapse occurred this time in using the water effectively. The fact is that Kerala has not yet learned a lesson in dam management.

Chennithala criticised the centre’s decision to reduce the outlay for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the budget presented.