Date:04/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/04/stories/2008070460381100.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Businesses learn to cope with load-shedding

K. A. Martin

Some industries have rescheduled production hours

Continuous power disruptions more of a threat to production than load-shedding
Plastic-making units warn of losing advantage

KOCHI: The half-hour power cut imposed on the State has translated into a slew of new measures for industries and business houses to adjust to the situation.

From using small generators to rescheduling working hours, industrial units and business establishments are fast learning to live with the reality that Kerala’s hydro-electric power generating units are running on lean stocks of water.

The Kerala State Small Industries Association (KSSIA) and associations representing individual sectors in the manufacturing sector have agreed to a request from the Kerala State Electricity Board for rescheduling production to adjust to the current requirements.

A spokesman for the KSSIA said that manufacturing units have adjusted their shifts to avoid the peak period between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

At the same time, the industries associations at industrials estates at Aluva, Kalamassery and Edathala have requested the KSEB to consider exempting the industrial areas from the purview of the power cut.

Plastic and rubber-based units are intensive power users and a situation like power cut affects them more seriously than others. A plastic manufacturing unit in Kalamassery industrial area has rescheduled its production by arranging the shifts. The second shift which usually started at 5 p. m. now starts after 10 p.m.

The promoter of the unit said that more than the power cut, continuing power disruptions were more serious threats to production.

Industrial units here have been petitioning KSEB to address the issue over the last several years, he said. Power disruption leads to serious production loss and wastage, he added. It is expected that once the Ringline project is completed the quality of power supply to the units would improve. About 75 per cent of the Ringline project is complete, he added.

K. K. Ibrahim of Aluva Plastic Consortium said that the power cut has delivered a body blow to the fortunes of plastic items making units in Kerala. He said that products from Tamil Nadu have taken their traditional advantage further.

Plastic products from Tamil Nadu already enjoyed better tax rates and the power cut has decelerated production substantially here, said Mr. Ibrahim.

He said that a proposal from the plastic cluster for setting up a captive windmill project had been approved by the Government which has given independent power producer status to the Aluva Plastic Cluster.

Meanwhile, business houses in the city are coping with the power cut on their own ways. A meeting of the executive council of Ernakualm Merchants’ Association on Friday will discuss the fallout of the power cut.

Mohammed Sageer, president of the Merchants’ Union said that most establishments run small generators for the power cut period.