In a major development after the formation of new government in Kerala, officials of Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), along with officials of Tamil Nadu Public Works Department (PWD), inspected Mullaperiyar dam and Vallakadavu area on Wednesday in connection with providing power supply to the dam, and discussed a plan for laying underground cable there.
KSEB Deputy Chief Engineer Anil Kumar, Tamil Nadu PWD Executive Engineer A. Madhavan, PWD (Electrical Division) Executive Engineer Gunasekaran and officials jointly inspected the entire area between Vallakadvu and Periyar dam to lay underground cable to ensure 110 KV power supply to the dam site.
Power supply was snapped to the dam in 2001 after the “mysterious” death of an elephant in Thekkadi. Since then, Tamil Nadu has been appealing to Kerala to resume power supply to operate shutters. It has been using diesel generators to operate shutters in the absence of power.
In 2007, Kerala prepared a project and advised Tamil Nadu to remit Rs. 95 lakh to lay underground cable. Tamil Nadu remitted the amount to KSEB immediately. Tamil Nadu PWD officials raised the issue in eight meetings of the Supreme Court-appointed panel.
The KSEB prepared the revised estimate for this project and advised Tamil Nadu government to remit an additional amount of Rs. 70 lakh in January this year. The State remitted the amount on March 30.
