Date:01/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/01/stories/2007020108850300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Sharp fall in revenue in KSEB alleged

Staff Reporter

`Average monthly fall in income is around Rs.20 crore'

ALAPPUZHA: The revenue of Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has fallen steeply during the nine months rule of Left Democratic Front (LDF0 Government compared to the corresponding period the previous year despite the board giving three lakh new electricity connections in the period, the Kerala Power Board Officers' Federation has said.

At a press conference here the federation general secretary R. Chandrachoodan Nair said the average monthly fall in the income of KSEB during the period was around Rs.20 crore. Citing the details of revenue of KSEB, Mr. Nair said the revenue of KSEB from sale of power alone in September 2006 was Rs.254 crores compared to Rs.257 crore in September 2005. Similarly the revenue obtained by the KSEB from selling power in October 2006 was Rs.330 crore compared to Rs.349 crore during October, 2005, said Mr. Nair.

He said the reasons for the drastic fall in revenue were the failure of the Government to force Government departments and public sector companies in the State to remit charges, the negligence shown by the KSEB in disconnecting power supply of those who had defaulted payment of charges and the failure to replace faulty meters.

Mr. Nair pointed out that as per the statistics of the KSEB, eight lakh faulty meters needed to be replaced.

Further, the KSEB had not taken any step to deliver standard meters to customers, he added.

Mr. Nair alleged that the Government had removed all efficient officers from power distribution sector because of political reasons.