THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is yet to respond to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s SOS to help Kerala tide over the acute power crisis. Chandy had shot off his frantic plea in early June.
As the power situation in Kerala is worsening day by day, Chandy had requested Tamil Nadu to spare additional wind-generated power. Kerala was ready to buy it as per terms and conditions set by the Tamil Nadu State Electricity Regulatory Commission, he had said in his letter.
But neighbour Tamil Nadu is unlikely to respond positively to Kerala’s plea unless the power situation in that state improves, it is understood. Sources say that Tamil Nadu has not formally informed Kerala of its inability to help because of the political implications of such a reply in the light of the spat over Mullaperiyar and other dams.
Meanwhile, officials of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) said that teething problems at some of the new thermal power projects are preventing Tamil Nadu from helping Kerala at the moment.
This, combined with the fact that hydel reserves in Tamil Nadu are low owing to the weak monsoon is also keeping the neighbour from lending a helping hand.
“They have commissioned some new thermal power projects such as the one at Vallur, but there are teething problems at these plants. So supply from them has not stabilised yet. This being the situation, Tamil Nadu is keeping its wind-generated energy as a reserve to handle crises,’’ KSEB chairman M Sivasankar said, when contacted.
“We are in constant touch with them. They are ready to offer assistance once the power situation there stabilises,” Sivasankar said.
A month after Chandy’s request, Kerala’s power situation has not improved much. Power consumption is still soaring, and water storage in the hydel reservoirs have improved only slightly compared to June.