Improper planning on the part of the KSEB in hydel power generation since the onset of the south west monsoon season has caused the power utility a loss of Rs 102 crore, former Electricity Minister and CPM leader A K Balan said here on Wednesday.
Addressing a press meet, Balan said that lapses in planning of hydel resources had resulted in a loss of Rs 35 crore from Idukki dam alone from September 12 to 25.
“Had the KSEB made proper use of the water in the reservoirs, the Board could have sold electricity worth Rs 500 crore,” he said, and demanded a comprehensive probe into the matter. “From the month of June itself, it was evident that the water level in reservoirs will witness an abnormal increase. The Idukki reservoir, which was 37.16,per cent full on June 30, touched 74.45 per cent by the end of July. This increased to 91.45 per cent on August 31 and to 97.82 per cent by September 25. Had five out of the six generators produced power to their maximum capacity, the water level could have been kept under control,” Balan said. “If all six generators had been utilised to their full capacity, as much as 18 MW of electricity could have been generated every day. Since the Board did not do that, the Govt had to request the Tamil Nadu Government to draw water from the Mullaperiyar reservoir,” Balan said.