Chief Minister Oommen Chandy commissioned a 7.5-MW mini-hydroelectric project at Vilangad here on Monday.
Mr. Chandy said the State government had given top priority to power generation. The State would utilise traditional resources in generating power.
The project, situated on 17.75 hectares of land spread over Naripetta and Vanimel grama panchayts in Vadakara taluk, cost Rs.59.49 crore. Eighty-two persons parted with their land for the project to come up. The annual capacity of the project is 22.63 million units of electricity. The power generated will be taken to Nadapuram substation, 14 km from the project location.
The project was built on Vaniyampuzha and Kavadipuzha, tributaries of the Mahe river. Originally it was proposed to be completed in March 2012, but non-availability of land and adverse climatic conditions delayed the project.
The completed project consists of two small dams at Panoth and Valookku , two associated canals, a fore-bay tank, penstock, three 2.5 MW generators, and a 124-metre tailrace channel.
Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed presided.
