The Hindu Business Line : N-power plant not feasible in Kerala, says Minister

THE Electricity Minister, Mr Aryadan Muhammed, has ruled out the possibility of setting up a nuclear power plant in the State since the high density of population did not allow scope for one.

Replying to questions, the Minister told the State Assembly on Thursday that the State was eligible to draw its requirement - 14 per cent of the installed capacity - from the Kudankulam nuclear power plant coming up near Nagercoil in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

The Government will instead focus on benefiting from the State's potential for hydel power promoting as many hydel projects as possible but without compromising the environment. It will pursue the 513-MW Kannur power project, which will dramatically improve the supply position in the northern districts.

Answering a separate question, the Minister said that pump-priming of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had resulted in the reduction of liabilities from Rs 5,000 crore in 2003-04 to Rs 4,500 crore as per latest estimates. If this trend were to hold, the pubic utility could be turned around in the next two years' time.

Labour meeting: The Labour Minister, Mr Babu Divakaran, informed the House that the Plantation Labour Committee (PLC) meeting scheduled for next week is expected to thrash out the issue of revising the minimum wages of plantation workers. Replying to calling attention motion, the Minister said the Government proposed to exercise the option of revising wages at least in the rubber and cardamom sectors.

If no consensus were emerging on this, the Government would seek to achieve the revision through a notification, the Minister added. The Government is no stranger to this situation, with the previous 20 meetings of the committee over the last three years failing to break the deadlock.

Sandalwood reserve: The State Government will set up a Special Forest Division for protection of the sandalwood reserve at Marayur in Idukki district where sandalwood smugglers have let loose a reign of terror.

Responding to the notice for an adjournment motion sought to be moved on the issue, the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, told the Assembly that the forest protective staff would be provided with arms to protect themselves.

The Irrigation Minister, Mr Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who has been given additional charge of the Forests portfolio, will visit Marayur within a week to get a first-hand account of the atmosphere prevailing there.

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