The government and Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd (KSEB) is of the view that load-shedding and power cut should be avoided in the State in the coming summer months.
Allegations of undeclared load-shedding were only a campaign and any shortfall in electricity during the ensuing summer months would be met through purchase of power through the short-term and long-term agreements, Minister for Power M.M. Mani told the Assembly while replying to questions on Wednesday.
Mr. Mani said the government was of the view that solar power generation should be made compulsory for new houses and government buildings coming up in the State. Intervening, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the State would concentrate on tapping more solar energy for the State. Negative campaigns against the use of solar energy should be ignored, he said.
Nine projects
The Electricity Minister said the government would take steps to complete nine hydroelectric projects that could generate 166.5 MW. In addition, 15 new hydroelectric projects were to be taken up that could generate 149 MW.
On Athirappilly
In reply to another question, the Electricity Minister said that the State government would go ahead with the Athirappilly hydroelectric project only if there was a consensus among all stake-holders of the project.
