Thiruvananthapuram, June 12 (IANS): Power outages due to shortfall in allocation of power, maintenance work and inadequate rainfall, are likely to disappoint football buffs in Kerala as they will miss the FIFA World Cup matches that start at 9.30 p.m.
According to the scheduled load shedding, power cuts of a duration of 45 minutes to one hour daily take place between 6.30 p.m. and 11.15 p.m. in different parts of the state.
In all, 24 matches of the FIFA World Cup are being played at 9.30 p.m. (Indian time), which includes two quarter final matches. Given the load shedding schedule, many may not be able to watch the matches unless back up power supply is available.
The issue surfaced in the Kerala assembly Thursday when Pradeep Kumar of the CPI-M asked if state Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed could help lift load shedding from 9.30 p.m. onwards.
Mohammed said it would be difficult to lift the load shedding as the state is currently facing serious power shortage.
"He said that if the rains improved, then maybe, it (the load shedding) can be lifted," Kumar told IANS.
"But if the power supply from the central pool is not consistent, it may not be possible to lift load shedding at peak times," Kumar added.