The State government reiterates that it has not retracted from its stated position to implement the Athirappilly hydroelectric project only through consensus.
Power sector sources told The Hindu on Wednesday that the State had reissued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the project in response to a letter from the Centre last year reminding it that the techno-economic clearance for it had expired and that the State would have to secure a clearance yet again from the Central Electricity Authority to take the proposal further.
The NOC is only the first step and the State will have to get an environmental clearance after an environmental impact assessment before going ahead with the project, the sources said.
Centre’s directive
The Centre issued the letter after reviewing the work on hydroelectric projects and in line with its policy that adequate hydel power generation is imperative for integrating renewable energy to the power stream.
Unlike the fluctuating renewable energy from wind and solar, hydel power generation could be regulated and hence the Centre has laid a thrust on promoting such projects for maintaining a consistent power flow, the sources said.
Power sourcing
Power sourcing at affordable rates through long-term purchase agreement is possible at present.
The market now has surplus energy, but it too would fluctuate.
A standalone project such as the Athirappilly project is not quite significant in the current context for meeting the State’s soaring power demand. But the government has asked the Kerala State Electricity Board to keep the project alive on the premise that a discussion for evolving a consensus could be initiated in future after securing the mandatory clearances.
Current controversy
The present controversy in the name of the project is unfounded.
Issuing an NOC need not be construed as the government’s plan to go ahead with it in right earnest.
Such moves call for a political decision and the fears are unfounded unless there is a dilution in policy, the sources said.
