LDF government to go slow on Athirapally

Kochi: The LDF government is not in a hurry to undertake hydro electric projects including the controversial Athirapally project without taking into account the opinion of the people, electricity minister Kadakampally Surendran told reporters on Sunday.

“There is no need for any concern over the Athirapally project. All projects including small and big will be implemented only after taking into account the opinion of the people”, he said in a meet the press programme in Ernakulam Press Club.  The minister also said that there was no difference of opinion with CPI on Athirapally. “If the issue needed to be discussed it will be done at the appropriate time”, he added.

“The people are the masters in a democracy and ministers are only there to serve the interests of the people”, he added. The minister said the government and the Kerala State Electricity Board will not take any decision that would impose a burden on the people, he said.

Kadakampally said that the previous UDF government has shown a complete indifference to the power sector that has left the sectors of power generation, transmission and distribution without any progress in the past five years. The state government is spending nearly Rs 6,000 cr for purchasing power from outside and this situation cannot be sustained for the energy security of the state.

The minister also said the previous government has completely ignored the maintenance work in the last three years. The pre-monsoon maintenance work was not undertaken in last year and many lines may not survive heavy rains and storm, he said. He also said that nearly 100 electric poles in Thiruvananthapuram district collapsed in heavy rain.