THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The central government has taken a tough stance against the state government for not implementing the smart electricity meter on the basis of political opposition. The Chief Secretary and the Power Secretary have been summoned to Delhi on 22nd. If there is no favorable outcome in the discussion of the project, the central government might block the grants given to the state and withdraw the concession limit on the loans taken.

The central government is furious that even after other states have implemented the project, Kerala is refusing to implement. Kerala’s difficulty in the implantation is because of the opposition from KSEB unions of both ruling party and opposition. They say that implementing the project the way the central government is proposing will not be beneficial to the state.

Though the central government ordered that the decision must be informed by this December 15. However, a consensus has still not been reached. In the meeting called by the minister last Monday, the KSEB unions opposed the project very strongly. Therefore, the central government will be informed of the decision after discussing with the Chief Minister. If the project is not implemented, there is a worry that the central government might block its help to KSEB.

The central government’s decision on Rs.8200 crores for projects, the central project of Rs.4000 crores to reduce transmission loss and to increase the efficiency of distribution, the Rs.11,000 crores project for the development of electricity within 5 years, etc. will be very crucial. When the state is passing through financial crisis this might become a serious setback.