Dispute over 600-m stretch at Kaninadu in Kunnathunad hits of Edamon-Kochi line

Legal dispute in drawing power line over a 600-metre stretch at Kaninadu in the Kunnathunad Assembly segment is reported to have derailed the Kerala State Electricity Board’s plan to complete work on the Edamon-Kochi 400-kV line for carting power from various sources, including the Kudankulam power project.

Electricity board sources told The Hindu that inadequate transmission infrastructure was one of the major challenges in drawing power from the Central pool and exchanges, and the 400-kV line, considered the backbone of the transmission network, was remaining bogged down over a legal dispute raised by an individual.

CM’s intervention

The work that was initially held up following the dispute was cleared following the intervention of revenue officials, but it turned into an intense legal battle and is now pending at court.

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited has already completed work on 447 out of 448 towers that are integral to the project and the only stretch that needs to be cleared is the 600 metres in question.

The line could be used for carting up to 2,000 MW and that would help overcome the current crisis to a great extent.

The dispute is between the board and the individual and the government has not impleaded itself in the case so far. The government is yet to take a decision on impleading in the case. Given the gravity of the current power crisis, this has become imperative.

Though the board exudes confidence of averting major curbs and load-shedding till the month end, power generation continues to be a gamble with the rain playing truant. Similar disputes over drawing the line on various stretches have been cleared following the intervention of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The government indecision over impleading itself in the case would cost the board dearly, sources say.

Transgrid project

Work on the ₹10,000-crore Transgrid project launched for enhancing the efficacy of the transmission system is progressing, but it may not be completed in the immediate future. This also means that the uncertainty over sourcing power from sources outside the State may continue for some more time. The only option is to complete work on the line at the earliest, sources say.