Thiruvananthapuram: The infamous power cuts may soon return to Kerala if the southwest monsoon does not intensify by August 16. Pointing to likely power shortages in the near future, the reservoirs in the state only have water to generate power for 86 days. However, the state may try to tide over power deficit with the launch of a new transmission line and purchase from the open market.
Authorities will meet again on August 16 to take stock of the situation and will take a decision (on power curbs) after that, said Electricity Board chairman N S Pillai.
This assessment meeting would become irrelevant if it rains heavily in the coming days.
The inauguration of the Edamon-Kochi 400KV power transmission line by then too may alleviate power shortage. The project is almost completed but about 0.6-km stretch is entangled in legal hurdles. If this too can be completed, then 1000 MW can be brought from outside. Around 600 MW is need to resolve the expected power crisis.
The electricity board is trying to avoid a legal stay on this project.
Even if the daily power use rises to 7.3 crore units, the power curbs can be avoided by procuring electricity from Power Exchange. If any hurdle crops up in procuring power from outside, then the public would be informed via various media and the curbs would be slapped.
The meet has decided to seek the permission of the regulatory commission to buy power via the central government's e-portal.
Water level dips
Currently, the water level in the Idukki dam is only 20.3 per cent of the total reservoir capacity.
It is 17.5 per cent at Sabarigiri, and 20.2 per cent at Idamalayar. During this time last year, reservoirs in Kerala had about 92 per cent of water. Now, it has dropped to 21 per cent.
The challenge is to make do with this water for power generation till the arrival of the northeast monsoon. More water is need to raise power output to 1.8 crore units and to supply for drinking needs.
The India Meteorological Department has predicted that the monsoon would intensify in the coming days, giving some hope for the state. There was a rainfall deficit of 32 per cent in June-July, while 64 per cent was the reduction in inflow.
