Electricity Minister Aryadan Muhammed and Water Resource Minister P J Joseph will officially commission the mini-hydel power project constructed at the Peechi reservoir on January 7.
Though the official commissioning of the project was scheduled to be held on November 23, it couldn’t hold owing to the clash in dates available for two ministers. However, since November 24, the Peechi irrigation reservoir is being used for generating hydroelectric power as a trial run apart from supplying water for various projects in Thrissur and Palakkad districts.
According to KSEB authorities, the `12-crore worth mini-hydel power project with a capacity of 1.3 megawatts is operational for every six months period, starting from November, as the water is being released for various projects from the dam. Though the project aims at generating power only when there are no rains, it targets to generate around 3.21 million units of power per year.
According to KSEB officials, the water released through the main right branch canal of the reservoir for irrigation and drinking water purposes is being used for generating power.
The power generated from here is being connected to the Kannara sub-station, which supplies power to the Corporation and neighbouring regions in the district. According to authorities, the dam, which is built across the Manali River, has a catchments area of nearly 3,200 acres (1,300 ha) with an extensive botanical garden and the reservoir releases around 1.65 mm cubic water through the channel for at least six months per year. This can be used as a cost-efficient method for power generation.
The dam was constructed to irrigate surrounding villages in Thrissur. It also caters the drinking water needs of the people of Thrissur town. At present, the reservoir is the sole source of drinking water for Thrissur Corporation area and 10 surrounding panchayts.
However, scanty rainfall this monsoon has cast a shadow over the prospects of the project as the district received around 35 per cent less rainfall in the last monsoon.