THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The industrial sector has termed as irrational and blow to industries the State Government’s decision to agree to the KSEB proposal for power restriction of 20 per cent on HT and EHT customers. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will take the initiative on behalf of the industries and write to the State Government not to enforce this proposal and allow some more time for suitable alternate measures to tackle the current problem of electricity shortage in the state. The Kerala State Small Industries Association (KSSIA) had written to State Electricity Regulatory Commission not to approve the KSEB proposal for power restrictions saying that the Board had arbitrarily taken decision to impose loadshedding without the approval of SERC.‘’The KSEB had published the curbs to be imposed on HT and EHT consumers before filling the petition with the SERC. This is a serious violation of Electricity Act 2003,’’ KSSIA president Shaji Sebastian said in the letter. V K Mathews, Chairman, CII Kerala, and executive chairman, IBS Group, said that the current power restrictions would have a dampening impact on the industrial sector in the state and will hamper the growth and expansion plans of industries.‘’With the Emerging Kerala 2012 slated to be held soon with a view to attract investments to the state, such power restrictions will send wrong signals to potential investors willing to invest in Kerala,’’ he said. The industrial sector in the state is of the opinion that the current electricity shortage can be managed without resorting to imposing power restrictions. According to Umang Patodia, Chairman, Taskforce on Power, CII Kerala, and Managing Director, Patspin India Ltd, the higher energy requirements during March is usual. ‘’The daily energy consumption which crossed 63 million units during the time of the SSLC and Plus II exams had gone down considerably to 58 million units. This is also because of the heavy showers received in various parts of the state during the past few days. The power requirements is very likely to come down further,’’ he said. Confederation of Indian Industry believes that with some financial support from the State Government, the KSEB would be able to tide over the present crisis by drawing power from certain power stations. The additional burden on large industries due to the proposed power restrictions would be between Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 3 crore per month, it said. CII feels that a 20 per cent power restriction is not required and if at all the government has to impose restrictions it should be limited to 5 per cent for the months of April and May only. This will be best possible solution for the industrial sector in the state as well as for the KSEB to tackle the problem of electricity shortage.
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