THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister K Krishnankutty said the power tariff will have to be increased in the state . There should be a small rise in electricity rates. When power is bought from outside, they fix the price. The price hike is decided by the regulatory commission. The minister said in Idukki that the reason for the increase of 17 paise is the central government’s proposal to use imported coal.

There will be no major increase and will be hiked only a bit. In the meanwhile, the electricity minister said that if it rains, we can get rid of the hike.Opposition leader V D Satheesan accused the government and the regulatory commission of corruption behind the cancellation of the long-term power contract during the UDF government. The regulatory commission has been turned into a government-sponsored body by inducting party nominees. It was they who helped the government to commit corruption. He alleged that the power minister was kept in the dark and it should be suspected that the corruption was with the knowledge of the chief minister. Five months after canceling the agreement of the UDF government, the cabinet decided to restore it, throwing dust in the eyes of the people. Satheesan said the government’s role in the cancellation of the contract and the transactions that took place after that should be investigated.