Centre blamed for cancelling Athirappilly project

Kottayam,Feb 1 (PTI): Alleging that the Athirappilly hydelpower project was sabotaged by the union government, KeralaElectricity Minister A K Balan has said the Centre had noteven informed the state of the reasons for cancelling theproject.

"People of the state should protest against the attitude ofthe Centre," he said after inaugurating an electricity adalathere.

He said an expert committee was appointed to study thefeasibility of the 128 MW project and that a few committeemembers moved against its implementation.

Balan claimed the Electricity Department had successfullyreduced transmission losses from 24.6 per cent to 17.5 percent. A total of 206 sub-stations have been set up at a totalexpence of Rs 1100 crore, he said.