The Hindu : Front Page : Balan: Athirappilly project subject to 19 conditions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 26, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Balan: Athirappilly project subject to 19 conditions

No hydroelectric project without Central clearance

A.K. Balan says power generation at Panniar to take three months.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Electricity Minister A.K. Balan has said the Athirappilly hydroelectric project will be implemented subject to 19 conditions set by the Centre.

Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, the Minister said the conditions required the Kerala State Electricity Board to maintain the waterfall and flow of water downstream of the river. Tribals in the area would not be displaced.

Mr. Balan said a Central expert committee would be watching the compliance with the stipulations. He said no hydroelectric project, including the proposed Pathrakadavu project, would be taken up without Central clearance.

The Minister said resumption of power generation at the Panniar power station, which was damaged in a recent accident, would take three months. The condition of the old dam would be examined before generation was resumed. The army would conduct one more round of search for the bodies of assistant engineer K.N. Jose and lineman Jaison who went missing following a penstock pipe burst. The next of kin of the victims are being provided with compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, family pension and a job to one member of the family. One of the dead was a contract worker. A member of his family too would be given job besides Rs.5 lakh, he said.

Mr. Balan said tests had shown that the saddle weir at Kulamavu was safe. The water coming through the weir is not of any leakage from the Idukki dam but is of a normal spring. The water would have been turbid if it was from the dam. However, in view of the apprehensions of the people, a control room had been opened at Kulamavu and an engineer asked to keep a close watch on the situation.

He said the spillways of the Cheruthoni dam would be opened only if the water level in Idukki crossed 2,403 feet from the mean sea level. Two of the 11 shutters at the Edamalayalr project had already been opened.

He said a project for achieving electrification of all households in the State in four years would be launched on September 29. Funds from various schemes and MP and MLA funds would be pooled for it. The implementation of the project would begin in four northern districts this year and two districts from January next year. Work would be over in southern districts by 2011-12.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page