The Hindu Business Line : Kerala Govt to seek pvt partnerships for non-conventional power

THE State Government will invite private entrepreneurs to set up stations for generating power from non-conventional energy sources, according to the Minister for Electricity, Mr Aryadan Mohammed.

Replying to questions in the State Assembly on Tuesday, the Minister said that the Government would allocate land for the purpose for 20 years on lease basis. It will also provide all possible assistance for getting the statutory clearances for setting up the power plants.

Besides, the Government will take care of aspects like construction of sub-stations and distribution network. And if needed, the existing sub-stations will be upgraded for facilitating power supply from the non-conventional energy sources and the Agency for Non-conventional Energy and Rural Technology will make the initial investments.

The Minister said that a study had identified 16 places in the State that are suitable for generating power from wind. It has also been estimated that power to the tune of 605 MW can be generated from them. The wind plant at Ramakkalmedu in Idukki district would be commissioned soon, he added.

Arrears to KSEB: In reply to another question, he informed the House that the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had to get Rs 1,204.39 crore as arrears from consumers ranging from private organisations to Central government establishments as on September 30, 2004. The public sector undertakings owed the board Rs 444.46 crore, while the private establishments had to pay Rs 121.85 crore.

The Minister said that since 2001, consumers in the HT and EHT categories had been defaulting payments, which had now mounted to Rs 220 crore. In the LT category, the amount outstanding is Rs 274.72 crore.

It has been estimated that KSEB stands to lose on an average Rs 18 crore per year on account of power theft. Over the past one year, the board has detected 317 cases of power theft.

Upgradation of PDS: The Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Mr Adoor Prakash, said that 1,500 ration shops would be upgraded as "Sabari" stores, through which the items now being supplied through "Maveli" stores would also be made available.

Further, the Institute of Management in Government has been asked to submit a report on improving the public distribution system in the State. Around 1.14 lakh more families had been included in the `Anthyodaya Anna Yojana' scheme, he said.

Freight services

Regular freight services through the Venduruthy rail-cum-road bridge that links mainland Ernakulam with Willingdon Island and onward to Kochi has been restored with effect from Sunday.

Announcing this, an official spokesman said here that the service had remained suspended after a passing vessel rammed into the base of the bridge on July 29 last, damaging the foundation. The Cochin Port Trust has cast two additional concrete piles with capping beams.

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