The Hindu : Front Page : No power cut this year, says Balan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

No power cut this year, says Balan

Staff Reporter

Proposed load-shedding in connection with work on Neriyamangalam project

PALAKKAD: Electricity Minister A.K. Balan has said that there will be no power cut in the State in 2008.

Addressing mediapersons here on Tuesday, the Minister said the daily half-an-hour load-shedding being imposed in the State from January 3 for two weeks was in connection with the completion of the work on the Neriyamangalam power project. Sabarimala, Triveni, Erumeli, Chalakkayam, and Guruvayur will be exempted from the proposed load-shedding.

He said that though power consumption in the State had increased by 5 million units a day during the last one year, the government had taken steps to avoid power cut this year.

The Minister said the State would not be able to draw the power (263 MW) allotted by the Central government free from the Koodamkulam nuclear power plant because of its failure to construct the Koodamkulam-Edaman and Ernakulam power highways.

Reacting to the High Court verdict against the retender of the Athirappilly power project, the Minister said the government would go in appeal against the court order. He said that if the tender was given to the company (HCC-BHEL Consortium), a cost escalation would have to be paid to it and this would hike the cost of the project. That is why the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has gone for retendering the project.

The Minister criticised the Central government for reducing the allotment of 158 MW of power to Kerala from the Central pool under the plea that the State had no power cut.

Answering a question on the failure of the KSEB to take up the Kuriyarkutty-Karapara multi-purpose project in the Nelliampathy Hills, the Minister said the project was not viable as one unit of power from it would cost Rs.9. The irrigation part of the project also could not be taken up because it will also become very costly. So there is little chance of taking up such projects.

The Minister said the government was considering to provide power free of cost to all tribal families in the State. The government has taken up the matter with the State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Mr. Balan, who is in charge of the Development of Backward and Scheduled Communities portfolio, said all tribal families in the State would be provided land and house during the tenure of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. They have been provided free treatment and a comprehensive health scheme is in the offing.

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

Front Page