Kerala Power Cuts: Vijayan Says UDF Government Failed to Plan

Kerala's Leader of the Opposition, Pinarayi Vijayan, has attributed the recent unscheduled power cuts in the state to a lack of planning and preparation by the United Democratic Front (UDF) government. Speaking at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, Vijayan claimed that the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had managed to avoid such disruptions during its tenure by taking proactive measures.

Vijayan stated that the state is facing a daily power shortage of 300-600 MW. He criticised the current government for purchasing only 150 MW in July through short-term contracts, despite having permission to buy power at higher tariffs. 'From this, it is clear that they did not have a clear plan,' he said.

He further noted that Kerala's power sector was strengthened over the past decade through the ₹10,000-crore Transgrid project and the completion of the Edamon-Kochi Power Highway, which increased domestic production by 2,092 MW. 'Yet, some level of preparation is required to meet dire situations,' he added.

On the cancellation of a long-term power purchase agreement in 2023, Vijayan explained that the LDF government had initially continued with the agreement signed by the UDF government, despite having differences with some clauses. However, the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) decided to cancel the agreement.

When asked about Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph's comment that the proposed nuclear power plant in Cheemeni could be considered after consultations with stakeholders, Vijayan expressed that such a plan would invite strong opposition from society. 'During the LDF's term, this proposal came up, but we decided not to go ahead with it and to achieve self-sufficiency through other means,' he said.