The Hindu : Front Page : Power on demand by March next

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Friday, Jul 16, 2010
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Power on demand by March next

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for Welfare of Scheduled and Backward Communities and Electricity A.K. Balan said in the Assembly on Thursday that electricity connections would be available on demand by the end of this financial year.

The Minister was replying to the demands for grants for welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes and Power.

Mr. Balan said that service connections would be given immediately to all who had applied for connections till the end of last month. In cases requiring electric posts, applications received up to March 31 would be cleared. Priority would be given to households having children studying for the SSLC examinations.

He said all Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe applicants seeking single phase domestic connections would be given connections without any limit regarding the connected load. Others seeking connections with load not exceeding 1,000 Watts too could get connections without opting for ‘‘own your electric connection'' scheme. In case of households without a house number, connections would be given on the basis of panchayat resolutions.

The Minister announced that an e-payment system for paying electricity bills would be in place by the end of this year. It would also be possible for consumers to make payments at any of the billing sections in the State.

Mr. Balan said the total electrification scheme would cover 100 Assembly segments by the end of March next year. A sum of Rs.15 crore would be allocated from the normal development fund of the Kerala State Electricity Board for the electrification of tribal colonies. A Rs.240-crore scheme would be carried out for the computerisation of power distribution networks in municipalities. Small hydel projects would be commissioned this year at Poozhithode, Ranni and Perinad. Nearly 20 MW would be generated by setting up solar power stations. Another 20 MW would be generated through biomass gasifier projects. Norms would be finalised shortly for developing wind farms on revenue land.

After the Minister's reply, the House passed the demands for grants (Rs. 623.91 crore for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes and Rs.45 lakh for Power).

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