Kerala eyeing alternative energy sources

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 16: Kerala Government is seriously looking at alternative energy sources in the wake of tremendous increase in the number of power consumers in the state, Electricity Minister A K Balan told the State Assembly today.

Replying to questions from Mr Kadannapally Ramachandran (Cong-S) and others, he said as part of the proposals, the Government was taking serious steps to develop non-conventional power sources, including wind.

Mr Balan said it was also taking steps to set up a 1,000 MW coal-based power project in Orissa and exploring other possibilities like generating solar energy.

The minister said the Government had noted that water storage in reservoirs in the State were decreasing alarmingly following the failure of South-West monsoon.

UNI