Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

State heading for power crisis, says Balan

Special Correspondent

It will have serious consequences

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Electricity A.K. Balan said here on Sunday that the State would have to face a severe power crisis in the immediate future unless steps were taken to step up generation.

He was inaugurating a seminar on `Energy sustainability through people's participation' organised by the Thiruvananthapuam Press Club and the Energy Management Centre.

Mr. Balan said the grim power situation would have serious consequences for the development of the industrial, tourism and IT sectors. He warned that it would also make it difficult for the State to generate job opportunities.

"Over the next 10 years, the State will have to generate an additional 1,500 MW to meet the rising demand. Failure to do this will lead to a crisis in various sectors," he said. Mr. Balan said many hydel projects were held up owing to public opposition. Even the move to draw a 400-kV line to bring power from the Koodankulam project in Tamil Nadu ran into rough weather, he said. "The Government does not intend riding roughshod over public sentiments. But the State will have to pay a heavy price if these projects are not carried forward," he said. The Minister highlighted the need for a long-term vision and perspective planning in the power sector to tide over the impending crisis. "Non-conventional energy sources can be given more priority and there should be a concerted move to reduce transmission loss and conserve power," he added.

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