Times News NetworkThiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan blamed the UDF govt for the prevailing power crisis in the state, alleging that its “ineptitude” had turned the electricity sector into a commodity for private players.Speaking at a seminar on ‘The Privatisation Policies of the Centre and State Govts and the Power Crisis’, in the state capital on Tuesday, Vijayan alleged that privatisation of power generation, transmission and distribution was part of the UDF-BJP agenda.He claimed that 60% of the country’s power generation was controlled by private corporate groups such as Adani, Ambani and Tata, and alleged that power shortages would provide an opportunity to exploit consumers.“The present steps are aimed at creating such a situation. The LDF govt had opposed privatisation in the power sector,” said the former CM.Vijayan alleged that the state had witnessed major stagnation in the power sector whenever the UDF came to power and accused govt of failing to take adequate precautionary measures to deal with the emerging situation.A former power minister, Vijayan also rejected allegations that the previous LDF govt had cancelled a long-term power purchase agreement. He said the agreement was signed without the necessary approval of Centre and Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission.He claimed that the LDF govt had subsequently made efforts to restore the agreement and that the regulatory commission had taken the unusual step of directing its reinstatement.“The facts are being ignored and baseless allegations are being spread,” Vijayan said, adding that the LDF govt had resolved power-sector crises during its tenure through timely interventions.Turning to the current crisis, he alleged that the “real politics” behind it was privatisation and claimed that the UDF govt was working in the interests of corporate groups seeking greater control over the power sector. He also questioned the delay in setting up battery energy storage systems, alleging that the govt had shown “gross negligence” in the matter.He referred to the UDF’s stated plans for greater private participation in battery storage and alleged that the current approach was aimed at creating a foothold for Adani group in Kerala’s power sector. “There is no straightforward intention behind all this. It is not in the interest of the state,” he said, adding that the interests of Keralam would not be compromised.
