Kerala to get more time for Electricity Board trifurcate

New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) The Centre has agreed to allow more time to Kerala to trifurcate its electricity board into three entities, as required under the 2003 central act.

Kerala Electricity Minister A K Balan today met Union Energy Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and sought another one year time for trifurcation of the Kerala state. Electricity Board into three companies looking after generation, transmission and distribution.

The Centre has already given two extensions earlier. The second extension expires on June 9.

In his first visit to the capital city after the new LDF government came to power in Kerala ten days ago, Mr Balan told mediapersons here that Mr Shinde had agreed to give extension beyond June nine, but did not specify how long it would be.

Replying to a question, he said there would not be any power tariff hike in the state though the electricity regulatory authority had been pressing for reducing the domestic subsidy on power. "If domestic subsidy is reduced, it would mean a hike in the price of electricity." "We will not take any decision on power tariff hike unilaterally," he asserted.

He said the new government was against privatisation of the electricity board. It was in favour of retaining the board in the public sector.

Mr Balan said though the electricity board was not making profit, it has started reducing the accumulated loss. The loss now stood at Rs 342 crore. But the government and some high tension consumers owed Rs 1,494 crore to the board.

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