The Hindu Business Line : KSEB moves to generate 342 mu additional power

THE Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has targeted additional generation of 342.14 million units in 2005-06, according to Mr Aryadan Muhammed, Minister for Electricity. He said in a statement in the State Assembly on Thursday that besides this, it was planned to start work on various projects with a combined generation capacity of 366.90 MW in the course of the year.

The works on the 100-MW Kuttiadi additional extension project and the 25-MW Neriamangalam extension scheme, which commenced in 2004, were progressing well. The renovation works on Sabarigiri project was also at an advanced stage, the Minister said.

KSEB has allocated Rs 260.68 crore in its budget for 2005-06 to take up various projects in the generation sector.

In the transmission sector, the board has allocated Rs 297.53 crore in its budget. The Power Grid Corporation's 400 KV line from Madurai to Thiruvananthapuram and the 400 KV sub-station at Pallipuarm were expected to be commissioned in 2005-06, he said.

For works in the distribution sector, the board has set aside Rs 393 crore in the budget. The board has been giving 3.5 lakh new service connections every year and it has targeted to take power to all the households by 2007.

KSEB is planning to make capital investments to the tune of Rs 953.31 crore in various projects as per its budget estimates for 2005-06.

Under the Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme, projects worth Rs. 351 crore have been taken up to improve sub-transmission and distribution in three circles and seven towns in the State. These apart, projects costing Rs. 1,173 crore were under the consideration of the Centre, the Minister said.

Tourism: The Tourism Minister, Mr K.C. Venugopal, said in a statement in the Assembly that the State registered 17 per cent growth in tourist arrivals in 2004 over the previous year. As many as 60 lakh domestic tourists and 3.44 foreign tourists visited the State last year.

Also, the Tourism Department received Rs 21.78 crore from the Centre for various tourism promotion schemes.

The department proposes to set up a "handicrafts village" at Vizhinjam at a cost of Rs 5 lakh. Besides, places such as Kovalam, Munnar, Kumarakom and Fort Kochi will be designated as separate tourism zones.

The Government is planning to bring in a legislation to regulate the functioning of Ayurveda centres in the State. This would be done in co-ordination with the Health Department, Mr Venugopal said.

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