KOCHI: At a time when the state government is set to hike the power tariff by 15-70 paise per unit, 128 small hydroelectric projects with an aggregate capacity of 798 megawatts (MW) remain non-starters despite being proposed several decades ago. They do not include large ventures like the 163 MW Athirappilly project.
“The KSEB (Kerala State Electricity Board) cites operating losses, which are accumulating every year, before the electricity regulatory commission to justify tariff hike every time. However, the only reason for KSEB’s loss is its laxity in executing new hydroelectric projects,” said Jacob Jose, former project manager of Pallivasal Extension Scheme
