Third phase of Madakkathara sub-station launched

Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed has said that Kerala will have to increasingly purchase power from other States if it does not take energy conservation seriously.

He was addressing a meeting here on Tuesday to inaugurate the third phase of the 400 kV sub-station at Madakkathara.

“Much of the revenue earned is being spent on purchasing electricity. Hydro-electric projects, implemented with environment-friendly technologies, are ideal for the State as it cannot tap many other sources of energy. Though it has the potential to generate 6,000 MW, only 2,100 MW is being tapped. Environmental issues have stalled 600 MW projects,” he said.

He stated that the government was promoting non-conventional energy sources in a big way.

“The government has taken the initiative to install 10,000 1 KW off-grid solar panels. The Central and State governments are providing a subsidy of Rs. 92,000 for each. The government plans a project to install 10,000 on-grid panels,” he said.

The scheme to provide free power connection to those in the BPL category and those in the APL category who have houses below 1,000 sq ft had been extended till April 31, he said.

M.P. Vincent, MLA, presided.

Kerala State Electricity Board Transmission and System Operation Director K. Venugopal, Ollukkara Block Panchayat President Nandan Kunnathu and Madakkathara Panchayat President Sujatha Balakrishnan were present. The third phase has been completed by raising the capacity of the sub-station from 1,050 MVA to 1,365 MVA. The work has been done at a cost of Rs. 18.65 crore.

The project benefits 54 lakh consumers in Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts.