Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Focus on KSEB's efficiency: Aryadan

Aryadan Mohammad says ISO certification will be obtained for Moolamattam and Moozhiyar hydel projects

Thiruvananthapuram: Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed on Monday announced a slew of projects to be implemented during Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's 100-day programme, focussing on improving efficiency of the Kerala State Electricity Board.

Addressing a meet-the-press programme organised by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club, Mr. Mohammed said the board would go for ISO certification for the Moolamattam and Moozhiyar hydel projects with a view to improving efficiency of the generating stations.

Construction work of the Chimminy and Aanakkayam mini-hydel projects worth 10 mw each would be started during the 100-day programme period. The Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyuthi Yojana would be extended to cover the six southern districts in the second phase.

In the first phase, the six districts of Malabar and Idukki were covered. A sum of Rs.100 crore would be available for the second phase and the Centre had given sanction to the proposal at a discussion he held with Union Minister for Power Sushil Kumar Shinde, Union Minister of State for Power K.C. Venugopal, and Central government officials.

The State would get 90 per cent of the project cost as grant. Work on four 110 kV and six 33 kV substations would be completed and commissioned. To improve distribution, 11 Kv lines would be drawn over 1,000 km, 1,500 new transformers would be installed, and 2,000 km distribution lines would be converted into three phase.

New connections

He said 50,000 new connections would be given to clear the backlog up to March 31, 2011. The KSEB would undertake surveys for three power projects - Upper Shengulam (24 Mw), Marmmaram (5 Mw), and Kallar (5 Mw).

The Minister announced an amnesty scheme for closed industrial units to pay up their bill arrears.

He said the Energy Management Centre and the KSEB would jointly implement an energy conservation programme for students in classes V to X. The proposal was to promote ‘energy smart schools.' Three cash awards would be given to the students.

Energy marts

The board also proposed to promote Akshaya Energy Marts in all municipal and block areas. The Agency for Non-Conventional Energy Resources and Technology would supply solar power packs to address power problems during peak load period.

The scheme would have a subsidy of 30 per cent from the Centre and the State government. Replying to questions, Mr. Mohammed said the Kerala State Electricity Board had already been converted into a company as per the Electricity Act, 2003. The assets of the KSEB had been vested with the government.

The re-vesting process had run aground over the failure of the LDF government to take a decision on the Rs.4,520-crore pension fund required prior to transferring the assets to the new company.

The then Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had cleared a proposal for transferring Rs.2,500 crore to the pension fund. The UDF government would make available the entire amount required for the pension fund and adjust the amount from the duties the company owed to the government. With regard to tariff hike, Mr. Aryadan said measures for improving efficiency in functioning would enable the board to avoid a hike temporarily.

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