Thiruvananthapuram, September 12 (Daily Kiran) : The electricity crisis in Kerala has sparked a heated political dispute. Former Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) chairman B. Ashok has targeted ex-Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the cancellation of long-term power purchase agreements.
Ashok, an IAS officer, dismissed Vijayan’s criticisms, suggesting they are an attempt to shift the blame for decisions made during the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government onto officials. He emphasized that all official documents related to these agreements are available and can clarify the situation. Ashok asserted that KSEB officials acted without negligence in this matter.
However, this controversy extends beyond just the power purchase agreements; it is rooted in a longstanding political and administrative dispute. Ashok, who belongs to the 1998 batch of IAS officers, has had a tense relationship with the former LDF government. In April, he was suspended by Vijayan’s administration after allegedly criticizing the previous government’s operations during an interview. He faced accusations of speaking to the media without permission and damaging the government’s image. After being suspended for about six weeks, he was reinstated by the new Satyasree government in June.
Against this backdrop, Ashok’s latest attack on Vijayan is considered politically significant. He accused the former chief minister of trying to evade responsibility by blaming officials. This shift from a technical dispute over power purchase agreements to personal and political accusations is noteworthy.
Earlier, Vijayan had posted on Facebook, blaming the current electricity crisis on the UDF government led by Oommen Chandy. He rejected claims that the cancellation of a 465 megawatt long-term power purchase agreement by the previous LDF government was the cause of the current crisis. The current Satyasree government contends that this cancellation has led to nighttime power cuts, causing public frustration, especially since power outages were relatively rare during Vijayan’s nearly decade-long tenure.
Vijayan argued that the original agreement made by the UDF government in 2015 was fraught with legal issues, as it lacked regulatory commission or government approval. He claimed that the LDF government fought to salvage that agreement, even taking the matter to the Supreme Court.
He further noted that his government managed to meet a peak electricity demand of around 6,100 megawatts without power cuts by engaging in power purchases and swaps with other states.
In contrast, Ashok pointed out that the root cause of the current crisis lies in the lack of long-term planning. He specifically highlighted the insufficient storage facilities for renewable energy generated during the day, which could be used at night.
On the other hand, Vijayan accused the UDF government of deliberately creating an electricity crisis to weaken KSEB and pave the way for privatization in the electricity sector. Ashok dismissed these allegations, stating that such claims do not address the real administrative and technical issues facing the state’s electricity sector.
As concerns grow over electricity shortages and the potential for further restrictions, the clash between Ashok and Vijayan has not only brought the controversial power agreements back into the spotlight but has also highlighted the underlying political and administrative struggles.
Leave a Comment