Tuesday, Jan 07, 2003
Tuesday, Jan 07, 2003 |
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Kerala
By Radhakrishnan Kuttoor
Talking to `The Hindu' here, he said the "inept handling of basic issues right from power generation to the overall management of the KSEB itself required an analytical study rather than introduction of reforms sidelining the ground realities.'' According to him, the Government and the KSEB authorities have promised to manage the crisis-ridden power sector with certain specific programmes of action ensuring an additional power availability to the extent of 1,200 MW within five years. However, there was no additional power generation or any project under way to meet the envisaged target within the scheduled time-period, despite the fact that 19 months had already lapsed.
No reduction in T&D loss
The KSEB's transmission and distribution loss as per the official figure was around 33 per cent, which means that one-third of the energy generated did not reach its destination, causing an aggregate reduction of the Board's potential resources. The major point of loss was classified under `power theft' and the launch of `Operation Vajra' to identify and proceed against power thefts had failed to register any reduction of transmission loss, he alleged. Mr Pillai said that the authorities did not seem to be interested in ascertaining whether the T&D loss was attributed to technical reasons on account of an unstable transmission network. The authorities have initiated no tangible action during the past 19 months to manage the `stated' crisis in the power sector with a programme of stabilising the sector by commissioning the required high-tension lines and sub-stations, which are essential to curb the T&D loss, besides detection of theft, the KEWF leader alleged. Pointing out that the targeted additional power connection for the current financial year was four lakhs, Mr. Pillai alleged that only 55 per cent of the target had been met by December 31 and the chances of achieving the ensured quantum were rather bleak. It is interesting to note that a considerable part of the new connections are regulated under the OYEC scheme for which the entire cost plus service charge were realised from the applicant. Even when remittance of the projected power connection is made by the applicant, there are complaints of inordinate delay to avail the power connection, causing alarm among the applicants, he said.
System maintenance
Mr. Pillai alleged that the system maintenance too did not present a rosy figure as power supply interruption had become frequent. An analysis of the daily power consumption with reference to December, 2002, from different sources revealed that 9 million units were of hydel power, 15.7 mu of imported power, 6.4 mu of thermal power and others 3 mu. The figures give an alarming reading that the hydel power constituted around 25 per cent of our consumption. He said the "criminal inacton'' and indifference on the part of the authorities converned in taking up various viable hydel power schemes in different parts of the State may lead to a crash-landing of the KSEB in the near future. The KEWF leader said that the mission headed by the Electricity Minister, Kadavoor Sivadasan, to China to invite all-round co-operation in taking up specific mini-hydel projects still remained a dream. Though certain projects were offered to private companies, nobody had come forward to undertake them, leading to a state of uncertaininty. The work on the 20 MW Allunkal-Karikkayam mini hydel project undertaken by the TECIL Group too came to a deadlock and the contractors had already left it half-way, ruling out its commissioning in the near future, Mr Pillai said. Neither the State Government nor the KSEB seems to be concerned as to how the construction of the project can be revived in the present context of power crisis, he alleged.
Revenue earning
He said the revenue earning sector too did not show a satisfactory state of affairs not withstandng two tariff hikes in a period of 16 months estimating an additional revenue earnings of around Rs. 120 crores per month. However, the targeted revenue mobilisation is yet to be achieved and the entire revenue collection as on December 31 was only Rs. 245 crores against the targeted figure of Rs. 300 crores. According to Mr Pillai, the revenue collection should have registered a steep rise in view of the introduction of new users' fee like meter rent, revised applicaton fee, service connection fee, OYEC charge, rental, etc. Another interesting aspect is the considerable reduction in the employees cost to the level of 13 per cent, which is around Rs 30 crores on a monthly basis. ``Many of the accrued benefits of the employees were arbitrarily taken away, and to all indications, stopping of promotion to open vacancies, ban on recruitment, reduction of personnel, etc., will not bail out the KSEB from the ongoing crisis,'' Mr. Pillai said. He said what was needed was a self-introspection by the Board authorities and the Government and initiating of fool-proof steps after taking the employees into confidence in the larger interests of the Board and the pubic.
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