PALAKKAD: Taking a serious note of the stark power shortage the state faces, the government will explore options to tap both solar and wind energy, said Power Minister M M Mani after inaugurating the 2-MW solar plant set up at the eight-acre project site of Anert in Kuzhalmannam here on Monday.
“Since land was a constraint, the solar panels could be installed on roof tops, the Minister said. The Central Government subsidy should be utilised effectively. In districts like Palakkad, where there is considerable sun exposure, the scope for setting up solar panels was immense.
Anert has acquired 140 acres of land in Ramakkalmedu in Idukki district to set up a solar project.Similarly, the windmills can be set up in the border areas. The KSEB will study how the dams could used to generate solar power.
Currently, the state generates only 30 per cent of power that it needs. The remaining 70 per cent was being met from the central pool and the neighbouring states. K D Prasennan MLA presided over the meet. The state-level inauguration of the solar smart scheme of Anert was performed by Tribal Affairs Minister A K Balan.
All eligible persons should be included in the comprehensive electrification scheme, the minister said at a review meet of power projects in the district at the Collectorate Conference Hall.
The village and block panchayats should make use of the government order which mandates that the cost of wiring of un-electrified households should be borne by the local panchayats by earmarking funds in their plan.
The estimate for the wiring work should be submitted to the District Planning Committee by January 30. The government was planning to declare the state totally electrified by March 31, he added. MLAs K V Vijayadas, P K Shashi and K Babu, District Collector P Marykutty, district panchayat president K Shanthakumari and KSEB director Venugopal were also present.