This Article is From May 06, 2012

Centre's allocation helps Kerala to reduce power cuts: Minister

Kottayam: The Kerala government today said it suffered lesser power cut compared to other states mainly due to assistance from the Centre, which was allotting more than 1,700 MW of electricity to the state.

Centre was allotting 1,705 MW, including 468 MW from unallocated quota, state power minister Aryadan Muhammed said while inaugurating the 59th annual general body meeting of Kerala State Electricity Board Engineers Association here.

Mr Muhammed said Kerala was the only state receiving large quantum of power from unallocated quota. "The state is getting 468 MW while Tamil Nadu 338 MW from the quota," he said.

The minister said the state at present required 3,400 MW and the demand was growing by 10 per cent every year and would touch 6,000 MW by 2021, unless the generation was increased it would be difficult to meet the situation.

Mr Muhammed demanded environment clearance from the Centre for proposed hydel power generation units in Silent Valley, Pooyamkutty and Athirapally. An estimated 8,870 MW could be generated from hydel projects, he said.

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