'People's concern to be removed on powerline'

Thiruvananthapuram, June 19 : Kerala will ask the Powergrid Corporation of India (PCI) to seek the possibilities for a realignment of the proposed 400 KV powerline from Koodamkulam atomic power station in Tamil Nadu to Madakkathara in Thrissur district of Kerala excluding thickly populated areas, plantations and farm land, State Electricity Minister A K Balan told the State Assembly today.

Replying to a Calling Attention motion by Mr Adoor Prakash (Cong), he said the 310 km line would be drawn only by removing the concern of the people.

The government would try to evolve a consensus on the issue and implement the project as it was necessary to meet the state's power needs. Kerala is to get 266 MW power from Koodamkulam and it was necessary to meet the increased power needs in the next five years when the number of consumers were expected to rise to one crore from the present 82 lakh, he said.

Mr Balan said Kerala was not required to spend any amount on the powerline as the PCI was meeting the entire cost of Rs 2,000 crore for it.

UNI