The government would promote more small and micro hydroelectric projects as the prospects of executing major hydel projects are bleak in the State, Electricity Minister M.M.Mani has said.
Mr. Mani was inspecting the power house of the Perunthenaruvi hydroelectric project at Vechoochira, near Ranni, on Wednesday.
The 6-kW Perunthenaruvi project would be formally commissioned by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday.
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The government has realised that it was not that easy to execute any more major hydroelectric projects in Kerala and hence it has decided to revive all small hydel projects in the State, the work on which have been affected due to some reason, he said.
Construction of 21 small hydro-electric projects was under way in the public and private sectors, he said.
Mr. Mani said necessary steps would be initiated to see that the Perunthenaruvi project would never affect the waterfalls, a major tourist attraction in this part of the State.
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The Minister said the government was not for introducing power cut. The present storage position of the Idukki reservoir was only 60% of its total capacity, he said.
Mr. Mani said the government had not abandoned the proposed Athirappilly hydroelectric project as it has already got clearance from the Centre.
The Chief Minister has held talks twice with certain quarters that have been opposing the project. The project work could begin once a consensus is reached, he said. The Minister lauded the efforts taken by Raju Abraham, MLA, for materialising the Perunthenaruvi project.