The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : No move to raise duration of load-shedding: Balan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 24, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

No move to raise duration of load-shedding: Balan

Special Correspondent

Project to overcome transmission problems

Master plan for hydel tourism being prepared
Tourism initiatives to get boost: Kodiyeri

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is no move to increase the duration of load-shedding in the State, Electricity Minister A.K. Balan said in the Assembly on Wednesday.

Replying to questions, Mr. Balan said there was no proposal to introduce power cut at present. He said no policy decision had been taken to provide subsidy to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) so as to prevent the additional financial burden incurred due to power purchase from other States from being passed on to the consumers. Power worth Rs.1,540 crore was sold to other States. The power sale had helped the government earn more revenue and avert a financial crisis in the board. As many as 9,080 transformers would be installed during this financial year as part of the voltage improvement programme.

A project costing Rs.1,800 crore had been envisaged to overcome the transmission problems. Upgrading the 220 kV Edamon-Ernakulam line was not a feasible proposition to transmit power from the Koodamkulam project. Computer billing would be introduced in all sections of the KSEB by September. A master plan for hydel tourism has been envisaged by the board, he said.

Minister for Home and Tourism Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said master plans would be prepared for developing Munnar, Kovalam, Kumarakom, Fort-Kochi, Wayanad and Muzhupilangad beach. New projects have been proposed for Kollam district too.

Amendment

The Articles of Association of Tourism Resort Kerala Ltd., would be amended and it would be converted into a Tourism Infrastructure Investment Company.

Solid waste management plants would be set up at all tourism destinations.

Boat race

The government would consider the proposal to reschedule the boat-race calendar to enable more foreign tourists to attend the event. Private entrepreneurs will be encouraged to set up budget hotels. Classes at the International Hospitality Management Institute in Kozhikode would begin on August 4.

PSC applications

Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan said 70 lakh applications for 1,800 posts were being processed by the Public Service Commission.

The registrars of 11 districts except Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur have submitted reports about fabricated land documents to the government, Minister for Registration S. Sarma said.

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

Kerala