Even while expecting a bonus of 1,500 million units (mu) from the excessive southwest monsoon, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) would have to rely on its power purchase agreements entered into during the previous years to meet the surging power demand of the State.
Against an annual demand of 25,000 mu, the board generates only about 6,000 mu from its 30 major and minor hydroelectric generating stations. Board sources told The Hindu that the northeast monsoon needs to be normal to ensure that it would get a bonus of 1,500 mu this year. It also points to the fact that power generation continues to be a gamble.
Though the excessive rain eases the stress on the board, that alone would not help to reduce its reliance on coal-based generating stations and exchanges from where it draws power to meet the growing domestic demand.
According to a long-term rain forecast, the State is expected to get about 94% rain and if it tapers off in September, the computations may go awry. The total storage in all the dams is enough to generate 4,140 mu. Idukki dam has a storage capacity to generate 2,190 MU, the two reservoirs of Sabarigiri dam can store water for generating 900 MU, Idamalayar 254 MU, Banasurasagar and Kuttyadi a combined capacity of 300 MU, Sholayar 152 MU and Pallivasal 183 MU.
When the board spends about ₹3 a unit for evacuating power from other generating stations, local resistance is forcing the government to either defer or shelve proposals for hydel projects that offer scope for generating affordable power.
Major dams are not facing the threat of sedimentation, but the minor ones have it. Since the catchment areas of the major dams still have a thick forest cover, there is no threat of soil erosion.
Moreover, the board maintains a dead storage of water level and utilises only water beyond a particular level for power generation. There is also a system to drain out sediments from the dams annually. The rising demand points to the need for having more hydro power stations, sources said.
