Converting as company will privatise KSEB

KOCHI: The Kerala Electricity Workers Federation (KEWF) has come out against the proposed conversion of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) into a company.  The association said the conversion would gradually lead to private shareholding and eventually to the monopoly of the private sector.  “Currently, the KSEB provides subsidies like free connection to backward groups. All this will be stopped once the transformation takes place. The company might aslo start selling shares. It will be profit-oriented,” said K C Mani, Secretary, KEWF (AITUC).  “The plan is to divide the functioning of the board into 4 companies for generation, transmission, distribution and trading. This will be problematic for the employees and consumers. Hence, KEWF strongly condemns this decision and we will be holding a state-wide protest on Thursday,” he added.However, board members stated that the fears of the employees are baseless since the company will stay under the state government. “The decision was made according to the Electricity Act 2003. It is a policy change and the board can do nothing about it,” said S Venugopal of KSEB. “There is no need to fear the conversion since in practice, only the name will change to Kerala State Electricity Company. As of now, the only problem is regarding the funds for the pension allowance of the employees, which will be sorted out soon,” he added.