Date:06/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/06/stories/2008080655580500.htm

Kerala

State plans mega power project: Balan

Staff Reporter

KASARAGOD: The State will actively explore the possibility of setting up a mega power project to solve power shortage, Electricity Minister A.K. Balan has said.

Mr. Balan told presspersons at Kanhangad on Tuesday that the State government would seek the help of the Union government to set up the project.

He said the State might face a crisis in the power sector if the inflow into the reservoirs of hydel projects did not increase.

Mr. Balan said the Union government cutting the State’s share of the Central pool had contributed to the power crisis.

On political matters, he said the Communist Party of India (Marxist) needed to strengthen its activities among Dalits in the country. It would organise a meeting of Dalits in Ernakulam on August 16. Party general secretary Prakash Karat would participate.

Mr. Balan later inaugurated a family meeting of Scheduled Castes organised by the party at Kanhangad. P. Karunakaran, MP, and K.P. Satish Chandran, former MLA, spoke.