The Hindu : Kerala News : Balan calls for change in mindset

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Kerala

Kerala

Balan calls for change in mindset

Staff Reporter

‘Stop hostility to power projects’

Says vested interests raising trivial objections
Calls upon people
to tackle such
detractors

ALAPPUZHA: Minister for Power A.K. Balan has called for a change in the mindset of environmentalists who raise “unnecessary obstacles” for power generation projects in the State.

Speaking after declaring Alappuzha town as the second totally electrified town in the State here on Saturday, Mr. Balan said it was essential for Kerala’s development that more power generation projects came up in the State. Any such projects were taken up only after the Union government and scientists from the Centre’s department of Environment gave the nod. However, there were certain vested interests that raised trivial objections and impeded the progress of such projects.

The public in the State would have to come forward to tackle such detractors. There was no politics in this, he said, pointing out that the Koodamkulam Nuclear Power Project would have helped Kerala avail 266 MW from the Central pool. However, the project was delayed owing to baseless objections, he said.

Kerala, which was already facing a shortage of over 358MW from its daily requirement of electricity and generating only around 50 per cent of the actual requirement, has to come up with projects to generate at least 2000 MW within the next 10 years.

Pointing out that successive governments had ignored investments and budgetary support to the power sector, Mr. Balan said unless the sector was given top priority, the State’s comprehensive development, including generation of employment opportunities and all other industries, would suffer.

The State government had already begun steps to tackle the acute power shortage by initiating small scale power generation projects. Two projects, each of 25 MW capacity, would soon begin functioning at Attapady and Idukki while more such projects were in the pipeline. The government had also signed agreements with the Union government for mining coal from the 602-million tonne Baitarani West Colliery in Orissa. This project, in partnership with Orissa and Gujarat, was expected to provide Kerala with around 1000 MW

On the total electrification of Alappuzha, the Minister said smooth supply of power too was necessary to make the effort worthwhile. The 110 KV substation at Punnapra would be upgraded to a 220KV substation for this purpose, he added.

K.C. Venugopal, MLA, P.P. Chittaranjan, municipal chairman, and senior Kerala State Electricity Board officials spoke.

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