The State will achieve cent per cent electrification by September 30 this year, Minister for Electricity Aryadan Mohammed said in the Assembly on Tuesday.

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) could achieve 98 per cent electrification in all the districts in the Malabar region, except Palakkad, the Minister said in reply to questions.

Below the Poverty Line (BPL) families would be provided free electricity connection under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikiran Yojana. In forest areas in Palakkad district, the KSEB would lay underground cables to provide electricity to households.

The government would consider giving better compensation to landowners in Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts who would forego land to lay the Edamon-Kochi line to draw power from the Kudankulam power plant. While the daily power generated was only 2,000 MW, the demand was pegged around 3,700-3,800 MW. Repairs in the Sabarigiri power station would be completed by June 25. After this, if there was copious rain, the 45-minute load-shedding would be withdrawn.

In reply to another question, the Minister said the KSEB had approached the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission for a tariff hike to recover Rs.1,400.63 crore of the Rs.2,931.21-crore revenue deficit projected for 2014-15. “Increasing the tariff for all classes of consumers is the only way out. The existing subsidy given to consumers using only 120 units will continue,” he said.

Mr. Mohammed said the Silent Valley hydroelectric project was a ‘closed chapter” for the State. Hydroelectric projects that could generate 700 MW were pending with the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.