Alappuzha : A power failure that lasted for hours combined with unsupportable heat in the night saw the people of Punnapra then carrying a sit- in protest at the original KSEB office in the atomic hours of Sunday. The protesters contended that officials failed to respond indeed after repeated pleas throughout the night. Around 50 people, including women and senior, joined the sit- in protest.
Coastal Alappuzha has been in the midst of a heatwave, with temperatures hitting 38 degrees Celsius regularly. Contrary to other places, heat during night time in these While KSEB says it's forced to buy electricity from sources outside the state at a high cost to meet the ever- increasing power demand, it's notable the Board is making no effort to revive the 350 MW Kayamkulam Thermal power plant.
The plant was shut down in 2021 after KSEB supposed the cost of electricity that was generated there, Rs.15 per unit, too high to entertain. This is when KSEB presently spends above Rs.16 per unit on buying power from outdoors during peak hours areas increases due to the violent humidity.
Still, with the state witnessing new power consumption records daily, the Kerala State Electricity Board(KSEB) has been advising of brewing load-slipping unless there's a fall in the night consumption of electricity. While officials condemn the rise in the use of air conditioners and charging of EVs for the rapid-fire surge in power consumption, residents of littoral Punnapra don't retain similar power- guzzling electronic equipment in their homes.
