Power highway by November in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At a time when power consumption is shooting beyond even ostentatious estimates, it has become all the more important that the power highway — Tirunelveli-Kochi-Madakkathara 400 kv line — that supplies power from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, in Tirunelveli, is ready at the earliest. Though the plan was to get the highway ready by the end of December 2018, plans are afoot to complete highway at least by the last week of November this year.

The two halves of the power highway — Kudankulam-Edamon and Kochi-Madakkathara stretches — have already been commissioned. But for the highway to be of any use, the 148-km Edamon-Kochi stretch in between, the work on which has been slowed down by intense local resistance, should be completed.  The state is entitled to 266 MW from Kudan-kulam. At the moment, only 133 MW flows into the state because Unit-II of the plant has been temporarily shut down for fuel recharge.

“The nuclear power is imported through a circuitous route; from Tirunelveli, the power is routed to Udumalpet and from there to Madakk-athra and then to Kochi causing huge transmission loss. During the last three years, KSEBL has been suffering a loss of '50 crore annually as a consequence of reaching the relatively cheap nuclear power through this roundabout route,” a top KSEBL source said.

The source said that work along the Edamon-Kochi stretch was expedited. The stretch passes through Kollam, Ernak-ulam, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts. Of the 447 towers to be constructed in this stretch, the foundation work for nearly 300 towers was completed. In 240 locations along this stretch erection work has also been completed. And lines were drawn for 32 km. An attractive compensation package was also announced. For land on which a tower stands there will be a compensation of 100 per cent of land value, which will not exceed five times the fair value of the land. For lands that fall right under overhead lines, the owner will get an ex gratia of 40 per cent of fair value and a displacement allowance. 

Compensation will also be paid for trees and agricultural crops that are felled for the purpose. Houses that fall right under overhead lines will get Rs 1 lakh. Damages, too, will be compensated. “Money has already been distributed in areas where towers have been installed,” the source said.  Though protests continue to be staged along the Edamon-Kochi stretch, the LDF government has also rejected the demand for a realignment of, or an alternative route for, the transmission line.