Kerala trans-grid project to be implemented: Govt

: The Kerala government today said it plans to implement a trans-grid project that will strengthen the transmission and distribution system of electricity and bring down transmission losses in the State.
"Trans-grid Project-2' would be implemented to strengthen the transmission system. The estimated cost of the first phase of the project was Rs 4,745.77 crore and Rs 1,629.60 crore for the second phase," Power Minister Kadakampally Surendran said during the question hour in the Assembly.
He said that the State incurs transmission losses to the tune of 14.32 per cent.
He also said that work has begun on laying Aerial Bundled Cables (ABC) and Under Ground (UG) cables in urban areas to improve the Transmission and Distribution system.

"But this is a very expensive project," he said.
Kerala State Electricity Board has a total liability of Rs 6,400 crore which makes it difficult to implement the ABC and UG cable projects immediately. But, it would be implemented in due course, he said.

The Minister said that the government plans to set up thermal power stations in the State or in areas where the required fuel was available.
The government would approach the Centre to make available natural gas at USD 5 per unit, he said.
All under construction power projects, including six hydel ones, would be completed in a time bound manner, he said.

On the controversial proposed Aithirappilly hydel power project at Chalakudy river basin in Thrissur district, he said the clearance by the Environment Ministry was valid till July next year.
"There is opposition to the project," he said, replying to a question from P T Thomas (Congress).
However, the government would move ahead with the project only after arriving at a consensus among all, he added.
Besides environmentalists, the Congress-led UDF is opposed to the project.