Kerala - Kozhikode   

Balan says `no' to projects that may harm environment

Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE: Minister for Electricity A.K. Balan has said the Government will not go ahead with any power project that may harm or have an adverse impact on the environment.

Mr. Balan was speaking after inaugurating the electrical section office at Kakkatil, near here, on Monday.

"It is the professed policy of the Government not to implement any power project however needful if it could be hazardous to the surrounding area and environment."

"Power projects cannot be initiated based on political decisions. On the contrary, the State Government can move ahead with any power project work and give technical clearance only after getting the due clearance from the River Valley Expert Committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the Government of India. The committee gave the clearance after a year-long period of study and data collection," Mr. Balan said.

Clearance vital

The clearance of the Union Ministry was vital even if the State Government proposed to implement the Pathrakadavu Project. The State was committed to protecting nature, he said.

Mr. Balan said except three or four States, including Kerala, had not imposed power cuts so far.

In some States, the power cut extended from five hours to eight hours.

The Kakkatil section office has been set up to benefit 11160 consumers by bifurcating the Kuttiadi section office under Kuttiadi sub-division.

K.K. Latika, MLA, presided. Block panchayat president P. Surendran, grama panchayat presidents P. Nanu (Kunnumel), N.K. Leela (Naripetta), K.P. Chandri (Kuttiadi) and K.P. Balan (Kayakkodi), Ajita Nademal, block panchayat standing committee chairperson, among others, were present at the inaugural programme.

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