Ensure Uninterrupted Power During World Cup Final, P A Mohammed Riyas Urges Government

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M) leader and MLA P A Mohammed Riyas has urged the Kerala government to ensure there are no power interruptions during the FIFA World Cup final, calling the ongoing electricity crisis a matter of serious concern.

Speaking to the media, Riyas said the UDF government's assurances on uninterrupted power supply have repeatedly failed in the past. He alleged that the current power shortage was the result of the government's "irresponsible approach" to electricity procurement.

According to Riyas, the government shifted from long-term power purchase agreements to short-term contracts, worsening the crisis. He claimed that although the state was facing a shortage of 400 to 600 MW of electricity, only 150 MW had been procured through short-term contracts.

Questioning Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph's claim that power could not be purchased despite offering more than ₹10 per unit, Riyas pointed out that the Karnataka government had reportedly purchased electricity at ₹9.20 per unit on July 15. He asked why the minister had not initiated discussions with the Congress-led Karnataka government to address Keralam's shortage.

Riyas also accused the Electricity Minister of spending more time on his responsibilities as KPCC president than on resolving the state's electricity crisis. Instead of focusing on restoring power availability, he alleged, the minister was preoccupied with internal party matters.

Highlighting the previous LDF government's record, Riyas said Keralam had not experienced power cuts or load shedding during its ten-year tenure. He further alleged that two lives had already been lost under the present administration due to the ongoing electricity disruptions.

The MLA also criticised what he described as a lack of coordination within the UDF government, claiming ministers had taken conflicting positions on several issues, including PM SHRI, Nipah, the White Paper and Waqf. He urged the Chief Minister and the Electricity Minister to immediately intervene and resolve the power crisis by focusing on governance rather than political matters.