The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : KSEB’s move on deposit irks many

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Thursday, Jun 21, 2007
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

KSEB’s move on deposit irks many

Special Correspondent

FRAT to agitate if it is not revoked

Thiruvananthapuram: The Federation of Residents Associations, Thiruvananthapuram (FRAT) has threatened to launch an agitation against the decision of the KSEB to levy additional security deposit from consumers. A press note quoting FRAT president T.K. Bhaskara Panicker and general secretary Paraniyam Devakumar here termed the decision as illegal and an infringement on consumer rights.

What about others?

Flaying the KSEB’s contention that the additional deposit was mandated by the Electricity Act 2003, FRAT pointed out that the same Act had recommended the dissolution of electricity boards, trifurcation and privatisation of power sector, the Government’s withdrawal from rural electrification and scrapping the cross subsidy system. “When all these recommendations were put aside following stiff resistance from KSEB employees, why should the KSEB insist on implementing the additional security deposit scheme?” the press note asked.

FRAT warned that it would spearhead an agitation unless the Board withdrew from the move to “fleece consumers.”

DCC’s dissent

The District Congress(I) Committee has also come out against the KSEB move. DCC president V.S.Sivakumar said the previous UDF Government had reduced power tariff by 20 paise per unit. He alleged that the LDF Government was tacitly abetting the KSEB in exploiting consumers.

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