Minister for Power M.M. Mani has said the State government will give priority to the revival of pending hydroelectric power projects in the State as it is the most viable option to meet the increasing power consumption demands.
Commissioning a 650-kW solar power plant of the KSEB at Thalakkulathur on Monday, the Minister said the hydroelectric power projects at Pallivasal, Kuttikkanam, Chathankottu Nada and Mankulam would be included in the priority list of the government.
He also made it clear that the government would strive to settle public protests against the Athirappilly project as it had huge potential to meet the State’s power crisis. “It will be dropped only if such attempts of consensus fail to make a headway,” he added.
Mr. Mani said the setting up of solar power stations was a costly affair and the government would not be able to identify large acres of land for such a project. At the same time, we will make all efforts to source the wind energy by setting upwind turbines in Palakkad district and other suitable areas along the Tamil Nadu border, he said.
A.K. Saseendran, MLA, chaired the inaugural event. Chelannur block panchayat president O.P. Shobhana, Thalakkulathoor panchayat president C. Prakasan and KSEB Chief Engineer V. Brijlal (generation) were present.
Officials said the plant was constructed at KSEB’s 3.76 acres of land spending ₹4.68 crore. Altogether, 2,360 panels were set up for the project, which was aimed at promoting renewable energy generation programmes of the government, they said.
