The Hindu : KSEB opposes diversion of water

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

KSEB opposes diversion of water

By G. Prabhakaran

PALAKKAD, JAN. 20. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), which is executing a number of hydel power projects in the Periyar basin, has opposed any diversion of water from the basin as it will affect the Idamalayar and other power projects.

In a letter to the State Government on August 13, 2003, the KSEB Chairman, T.M. Manoharan, said "diversion of Anamalayar and Neerar water shall not be permitted considering the fact that a number of hydro-electric projects in the Periyar basin are now being taken up for execution by the KSEB. The water diversion from both rivers will ultimately reduce the water availability in the Idamalayar Reservoir.''

He also urged the Government to consider the problems of "saline intrusion and water scarcity in the Periyar basin.''

Considering these facts, such diversions should not be permitted while reviewing the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) agreement, Mr. Manoharan urged the Government.

He said, " the KSEB is concerned with the sharing of water of Sholayar and Periyar basins in the PAP Agreement. The Power Houses at Sholayar and Poringalkuthu are depending mainly on the inter-State water from Sholayar basin. Similarly, Anamalayar and Neerar water is realised in the Idamalayar Reservoir of the KSEB.''

The KSEB chief said that Tamil Nadu had violated the PAP agreement by not maintaining the Sholayar reservoir level. He urged the State Government to go for arbitration on the violation of the agreement.

The letter said, "as there is no provision for compensation for violation in the PAP agreement, only alternative open to us is to go for arbitration as provided in clause 5 (f) of the PAP agreement. Hence it is requested to take necessary steps to make good the loss sustained by the KSEB through arbitration.''

"The maintenance of water level at Full Reservoir Level (FLR), 2,663 feet, at the Kerala Sholayar reservoir on September 1 and on February 1 is very important for the KSEB and Kerala State as a whole. This is because energy generated in a hydro-electric power station is proportional to the head of the water for the same quantity of water discharge. So any decrease in the water level leads to energy loss,'' the letter said.

"Hence the request of the Government of Tamil Nadu to delete the clause pertaining to maintenance of water levels at the Kerala Sholayar Reservoir shall not be conceded at any cost, while reviewing the PAP Agreement.'' The letter also urged the Kerala Government to claim an additional quantity of 2.3 tmc of water from the Sholayar sub-basin as highlighted in the Technical Committee Report.

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