karmakerala.com news

That Kerala has for long been a power (of the AC variety!) hungry state is well known. Equally well-known is the state’s constant demand to the Centre for this seemingly elusive commodity, only to be left holding false promises or being rebuffed outright.

However, this state of affairs may change soon, if the state electricity board (KSEB) has its way, for now, in lieu of Rs. 15 (a sum you are likely to pay for a decent glass of fruit juice in God’s Own Country!) you can take home a Compact Fluroscent Lamp (CFL).  KSEB has announced the supply of two CFLs for each domestic consumer, at a quite attractive and more importantly, affordable price of Rs 15 each, a move which if implemented effectively can easily help the power-strapped state save power to the tune of 150 MW next summer.

It is also one initiative which is likely to be greeted with open arms by harried consumers who are by now reconciled with the numerous manifestations of poor power distribution, like ‘loadshedding,’ disrupted power supply and voltage that can put a yo-yo to shame.

The new scheme, under which 1.5 crore CFLs shall be distributed, is expected to benefit almost 75 lakh consumers in the state. Each CFL costs Rs 130 in the open market, and the Board’s initiative to supply them to customers at such pleasantly surprising rates is being regarded as a testimonial to its willingness to walk the talk.

This step is in furtherance of the Board’s earlier initiative under which 10 lakh CFLs were distributed to a consumer base comprising scheduled castes and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, free of cost.

So if all goes well, God’s Own Country may soon be seen in a ‘new light’, literally.