The Hindu Business Line : Kerala seeks additional 150 MW power

In a communication to the Union Minister for Power, Mr Anant Geethe, the Chief Minister said the calamitous drought conditions prevailing in the State and poor inflows into major hydel reservoirs have combined to hit the power availability situation badly.

The Chief Minister also reminded Mr Geethe that Kerala's share of allocation due from implementation of the first phase of expansion project at the Neyveli Lignite Corporation has not been granted yet. The State had alerted the Centre about this on an earlier occasion. Mr Antony requested that action be expedited on this front to reach the much-needed additional power to the State.

Repairs at Kayamkulam: Meanwhile, the State Electricity Minister, Mr K. Muraleedharan, has said that generation at the National Thermal Power Corporation's (NTPC) Kayamkulam plant would not be affected even in the face of some urgent maintenance that need to be undertaken at the 360-MW project.

The steam turbine at the plant would have to be shut down for a few days for repairs but adequate safeguards are being put in place to ensure that normal distribution pattern is not affected, Mr Muraleedharan said.

Orders have been issued for importing additional power from NTPC's plants elsewhere in order to maintain normal supplies.

The two other turbines at Kayamkulam will function as per normal schedule. Directives have also been issued to suitably regulate domestic hydel generation so that availability of power is not affected during the shutdown of the steam turbine, the Minister added.

Relief to IT firms: In another development, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has waived the enabling condition for power connection to IT services companies that required the latter to produce building number and other credentials upfront.

The stipulation has been waived in the case of connections required by for digital loop carriers deployed for enabling Internet and e-mail services.

Electricity meters for these service providers will be installed at a kiosk in the neighbourhood, expenses for which would have to be borne by the concerned entrepreneur. The condition will hold even in case of the meter developing trouble and needing a replacement.

The entrepreneur would have to pay up the equivalent of six month's estimated electricity charges as security deposit. He would also need to produce the required endorsement from concerned parties for setting up the neighbourhood kiosk.

Commercial rates will be charged for power consumed, the KSEB notification said.