KOCHI: Struggling to meet the peak-hour power shortage in the state, the KSEB has decided to revive the 163MW Athirappilly Hydro Electric Project which was put on hold a decade ago following protest from environmental activists and tribal community.
According to an order issued by KSEB on April 24, the Centre for Environment Architecture and Human Settlements (C-Earth) had made a presentation on the development of tourism at Malankara dam, Idukki dam and Banasurasagar dam before top officials of the board on January 17, 2025. During the meeting, a proposal was made to modify Athirappilly power project as a tourism project and to prepare a master plan for development of amenities including tribal school, tribal hamlet and primary health centre.
The proposal was presented by the Director (Generation) before the Director Board on March 8, and the meeting of full-time directors passed a resolution on March 19 to accord sanction to remodel the Athdirappilly project. The KSEB has appointed a chief engineer to study the proposal made by C-Earth. A meeting held at the KSEB headquarters on April 28 discussed the issue.
KSEB Chairman Biju Prabhakar, in a statement, said the KSEB is conducting a viability study on implementing the Athirappilly hydel project as the first Integrated Tourism and Power Generation Project in the state.
‘Water released after power generation will keep Athirappilly waterfalls alive’
“Based on the study, the KSEB will present the project before the Union and state governments. We are trying to explore the possibility of implementing the project by addressing the concerns raised. The aim of the study is to present the idea of implementing it through consensus with the support of all stakeholders,” he said.
According to Biju Prabhakar, the KSEB has been forced to reconsider the project as Kerala is depending on other states to meet around 70% of the its power demands. While the peak-hour demand of the state is 5,800MW, it has been able to generate only 1,800MW from its hydel projects. Though the board receives around 1,500MW power from solar power projects, it is available only during day time and does not help meet the peak-hour demand. With the demand rising, the board is forced to purchase power from realtime market at an exorbitant rate, he said.
“The project will not kill the Athirappilly waterfalls as the water released after generation will keep it alive,” he said.
As per the original proposal, the Athirappilly project will have a capacity to store 4 MCM water, which will be used to generate 163MW power. The project will have four generators with an installed capacity of 40MW. A 3MW generation unit will be installed above the Athirappilly waterfalls to keep it alive.
“The KSEB’s projects at Sholayar and Poringalkuthu generate power only during peak hours during summer season. The water released from the projects after generation will be stored at the Athirappilly reservoir and used for power generation. The implementation of Athirappilly project will help ensure water flow at Athirappilly waterfalls through out the year,” said a senior official. “If the project is implemented, we can implement various tourism projects at Athirappilly. The plantations in the surrounding areas can be used to provide amenities like parking, and recreational activities,” he explained.
The Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had issued environment clearance for the project in 2001, 2005 and 2007. Now, the KSEB has to prepare a DPR and upload it on the Parivesh portal of the MoEF&CC. After getting approval from the ministry, the board will have to follow the procedure for environment clearance once again.
Proposed in 1979
Athirappilly project capacity: 163 MW
Dam to be constructed at Pokalapara
Generation unit to be set up at Kannankuzhy