One lakh free electricity connections for poor

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, MAY 18. Five lakh new electricity connections, including one lakh free connections to consumers below the poverty line, will be provided in the State during this financial year, according to the Electricity Minister, Mr. S. Sarma.

Participating in a Meet-the-Press programme at the Ernakulam Press Club on Thursday, Mr. Sarma said the new connections would be given as part of the `Prakasa Keralam, Prasanta Keralam' project planned by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for the financial year 2000-2001.

Apart from the free connection scheme, one lakh connections would be given with the cooperation of panchayats under the People's Plan Campaign for electrification of rural households. Under this scheme, connection costs would be shared by grama panchayats, KSEB and the consumers. The Minister said that all the 67 lakh consumers in the State, including those slated to get new connections, would be brought under the spot billing system by the end of 2000.

The KSEB plans to hold annual adalats from June 15 to July 15 every year in the presence of the people's representatives, the complaints for which would be received one month prior to the adalat, the Minister said. He reiterated that steps would be taken to make the best services available to the people even while maintaining the Board in the public sector and ensuring job security for all .

The `Prakasa Keralam' project would focus on improving the services offered by the Board by putting an end to imbalances in the power sector and achieving a balance in the production, transmission and distribution sectors, according to Mr. Sarma.

He said the Government was planning a special package for the industrial sector including permission for captive power generation projects and concessions to industries which avoid production during the peak hours from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Answering a question, the Minister said that about five lakhs power meters in the State were damaged and they would be replaced by the Board under the `Prakasa Keralam' project.

The Minister said that while a total of 48 lakhs connections were given during the last 56 years, 13.12 lakhs new connections were given during the last four years of LDF rule in the State.

The crisis in the power sector was not because of lack of power production, but due to the transmission losses, he said.

Referring to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project and the Cochin Refineries Limited (CRL) project, he said top priority would be given to cheapest fuel.

Mr. Sarma said the KSEB had informed the CRL management about its readiness to take share in the CRL project. The Government had also expressed willingness to take shares of the LNG project. The proceedings for handing over the land acquired for the LNG project was also nearing completion, he said.

The Chembukadavu-I Mini Hydel Power Project, the first of the 18 mini hydel projects with Chinese cooperation, would be inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Mr. E. K. Nayanar, on June 10 in Kozhikode, he said. Other projects, including the 21 MW Kuthungal Project, the 50 MW Kuttiadi Extension Project, the 3.5 MW Malankara Stage-I Project, the 117 MW II, III, and IV stages of the Kochi BSES and the 20 MW RPG Thermal Power Project at Kasaragode, would be completed in the current financial year.

The Athirappilly Project with 163 MW installed capacity would be commissioned in June and the Kuttiadi 2 x 50 Project would also be completed soon.

Stating that the Government would encourage local bodies entering power generation, the Minister said the hydel power project of the Palakkad District Panchayat would be inaugurated by the Local Administration Minister, Mr. Paloli Mohammedkutti, at Meenvallam on May 20.

The Hydel Tourism Project of the KSEB would be launched by the Speaker, Mr. M. Vijayakumar, on May 19, he said.

Referring to the increase in electricity tariff rate, the Minister said it was a Cabinet decision and no foreign agency had any role in taking the decision.

A project report for producing 1,000 MW of hydel power was being prepared to meet the future needs of the State, he said. Project reports would be prepared for tapping non-conventional energy sources such as wind, cashew, coconut shell and rice husk for power generation.

Mr. Sarma said steps were being taken for strengthening the transmission sector, by constructing 150 sub-stations at a cost of Rs. 750 crores.

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