Mangaluru MLA UT Khader appeals CM to impose Bengaluru-like lockdown in Dakshina Kannada
Mangaluru: Ullal MLA and Congress leader UT Khader on Sunday appealed to the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to impose complete lockdown in Dakshina Kannada District in the wake of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the district.
Taking to Twitter, Khader noted that the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Dakshina Kannada has made the situation grim in the District and that there was a need to impose complete lockdown like Bengaluru here to cap the spread of the virus.
He also urged the CM to increase health and medical infrastructure, adding that the lockdown should be eased in phases only after ensuring a supplementary plan ready to be implemented to keep the spread of Coronavirus under check.
"Announce lockdown here also like you have announced in Bengaluru. Increase the health and medical infrastructure. Only after getting the supplementary plan ready for implementation, relax the lockdown in phases” he tweeted.
Earlier in the day, District In-Charge Minister, Kota Srinivas Poojary confirmed that no decision was taken on imposing lockdown in the District as of now and that the further course of action in the wake of COVID-19 situation in the District will be taken only after consulting the CM during the video conference to be held on Monday.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
No unannounced load shedding in Kerala, outages due to overload, says Minister
Palakkad (PTI): Kerala Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty on Saturday said there was no unannounced load shedding in the state, attributing recent power interruptions to temporary overload caused by high consumption.
Clarifying concerns raised from various parts of the state, the minister said the disruptions are not deliberate but occur when demand peaks, particularly between 10 pm and 11 pm.
"It is not being done intentionally. Power consumption has risen sharply, and when there is excessive and indiscriminate usage, the system experiences overload, leading to natural supply interruptions," he told reporters here.
His remarks come amid complaints that several areas have been witnessing frequent power cuts, often lasting around 15 minutes and occurring multiple times during the night.
Krishnankutty said the state's power demand has crossed 6,195 MW, putting pressure on the supply system. He added that around 70 per cent of Kerala's electricity is procured from outside, and existing power banking arrangements have been exhausted.
"We have approached the Regulatory Commission seeking permission to purchase more power. However, this will come at a higher cost," he said.
The minister said the government is trying to avoid increasing electricity tariffs and urged consumers to exercise restraint in usage to help manage the situation.
Responding to opposition criticism over the ruling LDF's earlier claims of a decade without power cuts, he said the current situation is not unique to Kerala.
A power crisis is emerging across the country, he said, and sarcastically asked the Opposition to take note of the role of natural factors in this.
Krishnankutty expressed confidence that the situation would improve within two days, while cautioning that long-term energy security would depend on enhancing in-state power generation.
He also warned that future generations could face serious challenges if adequate electricity production capacity is not developed within Kerala.
