Date:04/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/04/stories/2007020404340300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Bid to privatise KSEB: Sudheeran

Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government is trying to divide the Kerala State Electricity Board (KESB) into different companies and later privatise them on the pretext of implementing the Union electricity Act 2003, the Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran has said.

Inaugurating a public meeting here on Saturday in connection with the 15th State conference of the Kerala Power Board Officers' Federation, Mr. Sudheeran said the Left parties which blindly opposed the Union Government's policies on several issues was using the Act for implementing their agenda.

The division of the KSEB was first mooted by the LDF Government led by E.K. Nayanar in 1998 when the Act was not in existence.

Mr. Sudheeran said the West Bengal Government led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had entrusted to an American consultancy the task of studying issues related to division of the electricity board in that State.

He said the committee entrusted by the present Government to study issues related to the division of the electricity board had as members people who were behind the 1998 move.

Mr. Sudheeran said the State Government had an opportunity to present its arguments against the electricity Act 2003 before the Union Government and it should use its influence at the Centre to amend it. Moreover, the Common Minimum Programme of the United Progressive Alliance had promised to review the electricity Act and the Central leadership of the Left parties could take up the issue. Instead of that, the LDF Government was trying to divide the KSEB.

Federation president V.S. Sivakumar presided.