No unannounced load shedding in state: Power minister

Palakkad: Denying reports of unannounced load shedding in the state, electricity minister K Krishnankutty on Saturday said the intermittent power disruptions reported in various parts of Kerala are due to overloading.Speaking to the media, Krishnankutty said the campaign about unannounced load shedding was incorrect. "When power consumption rises, supply interruptions occur in many places due to overload. The issue will be resolved within two days," he said.Urging the public to exercise restraint in power usage, he said the current situation could be managed through conservation. "This is a problem that can be addressed if households limit their usage even by a small margin. The use of appliances such as water heaters and washing machines should be minimised, especially during evening hours," he said.State's power consumption has risen to 6,195MW, necessitating power purchase at higher rates, and govt is taking steps to avoid such a situation, he said. "This is not a crisis limited to Kerala; it is being faced across India. The situation can be overcome if people follow power conservation measures," he added.