The Hindu Business Line : KSEB awaits Centre's nod for new projects

The projects awaiting either environmental or forest clearance, or both, from the Union Ministry concerned are Athirapally (163 MW), Thottiyar (70 MW), Mankulam (40 MW) and Pathrakkadavu (70 MW). One more project, Pallivasal extension (60 MW), has obtained environment clearance, while it does not require forest clearance.

The Pathrakkadavu project is envisaged in the vicinity of Silent Valley project that was abandoned some years ago following protests from environmentalists. Faced with a similar situation, a public hearing on the project was held in March. As of now, an environment impact assessment is in progress.

According to the data available from a recent review meeting of KSEB, two ongoing extension schemes at Kuttiadi and Neriamangalam will add another 125 MW to the State's total hydel installed capacity.

Of them, the work on the Kuttiadi scheme (100 MW) is targeted to be completed in May 2007, while the Neriamangalam scheme (25 MW) is scheduled to go on stream in July 2006.

These apart, KSEB has taken up modernisation and upgradation of existing generating equipment at Neriamangalam at an estimated cost of Rs 58 crore, which will increase the installed capacity to 54 MW from 45 MW.

A similar exercise is on at Sabarigiri for raising the installed capacity to 335 MW from 300 MW.

At present, the total installed capacity of KSEB hydel projects is 1,808 MW and that of captive plants 33 MW.

Total thermal power generation in the State is 771 MW, comprising Kozhikode and Brahmapuram diesel power projects of KSEB (234 MW), BSES and Kasargod projects of independent power producers (177 MW) and the Kayamkulam project of National Thermal Power Corporation (360 MW).

The State is also importing power to the tune of 781 MW. It is anticipating allocation of another 989 MW from new Central projects.

According to the 16th power survey, the State will require 4,304 MW by 2006-07, the terminal year of the 10th Plan.

The expected total availability of power by then is to be 3,248 MW, leaving a gap of 1,056 MW.