THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is bad news for the power-starved state. At a time when the Kerala Government is exploring ways to tide over the summer power crisis, the hopes of getting power from Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project are receding. Though the works on the stalled Edamon - Kochi segment of the Tirunelveli (Nellai) - Madakkathara power transmission line have restarted, officials say the project will not meet the March 2017 deadline.
Optimistic estimates by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) reveal that the line can be commissioned, at the earliest, by October this year. Protests by land owners in four districts along the 138 km Edamon-Kochi power line have delayed the project, which is crucial for the state to claim its share from the Koodankulam project. The state government was planning to complete the works by February 2017, to draw power from Koodankulam to tide over the summer power crisis.
“Work is progressing at a fast pace. In fact, the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has already installed lines covering a distance of around 30 km. But there is still unrest in some places where land surveys are being done with the assistance of the police. We expect to commission the line by October,” said KSEB chairman and managing director K Elangovan. There are protests against the line in Kottayam Pathanamthitta, and Kollam districts. But works are progressing in Ernakulam district. Steps are also being taken to finalise the compensation package announced by the UDF government in 2015 based on 2016-17 rates.
The opening of this power corridor will increase the state’s power procurement capacity by another 500 MW. In fact, this line also constitutes one of the three big transmission works on the Power Departments table at the moment. The other two involve a new transformer at the Areecode substation in Kozhikode district which will increase its capability, and the ambitious Raigarh-Pugalur-Madakkathara power transmission project, which will allow Kerala to source 2000 MW of power from Chattisgarh.
While KSEB has made arrangements to ensure adequate power supply during the summer season through power purchase deals, lack of adequate transmission infrastructure is a cause of concern.
After the LDF Government assumed office in May 2016, it had held several rounds of meetings to settle the disputes posing hurdles to the Edamon-Kochi line works. Another round of meetings with the four district collectors is scheduled for next week.