INDIAN STATE : KERALA

Economic Infrastructure

Power

Generation

Kerala power system consists of 30 power-generating stations, which include 24 hydel, five thermal and one wind station. Among these, Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) owns 22 hydel, one wind and two thermal stations. The total installed capacity in Kerala as on 31st March 2005 was estimated at 2617.22 MW.

Due to good monsoon during 2005-06, the reservoirs received an inflow of 7974MU and generation from hydel stations was 4949.15 MU (up to 30-11-05). Further, another landmark in the power sector came along with the Malankara Hydro Electric Project, which was commissioned on 23rd October 2005. As a result installed capacity has been increased by 10.5 MW.

On going projects and projects in the pipeline:

Source: KSEB

Renovation, modernisation and Up rating (RMU) of old generating stations

The renovation and modernization of Pallivasal, Panniyar & Shengulam projects have been completed. The capacity of Unit 6 of Sabarigiri increased from 300 MW to 335 MW and unit 1 of Neriamangalam increased from 45MW to 54 MW and its works are in progress.

Transmission

Provision in the Electricity Act 2003 such as open access to the transmission and distribution net work, recognition of power trading as a distinct activity, the liberal definition of a captive generation plant and provision for supply in rural areas are expected to introduce and encourage competition in the power sector.

The load dispatch activities are carried out with the aid of state -of -art technology-Computerized Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA). The real time data from 30 Remote Terminal Units (RTU) including generating stations and major sub stations are acquired at the Load dispatch station. One more RTU is being installed. The State LD station is connected to the Regional Load Dispatch centre, Bangalore through F.O link for real time data transfer.

In addition to the above, two 110 kv sub stations, three 66 kv sub stations three 33 kv sub stations, 25.18 ckm of 110 kv lines, 11.35 ckm of 66 kv lines and 16.6 ckm of 33 kv lines were also commissioned during 2005-06. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) has completed the construction of a new 400 kv sub station at Pallipuram in Trivandrum in 2005.

Power Highway

In Kerala, demand for electricity has considerably increased in the recent past. In order to meet the growing demand, the Government of Kerala has taken various measures. With assistance from the Central Power Grid Corporation 400 KV power highway is being built which extends from Kozhikode to Thiruvananthapuram. It has been designed to draw electricity from the power stations at Koodankulam of Tamil Nadu and Kayamkulam and to transmit to different parts of the state.

Power Sector Reforms

The status of Power Sector reforms implemented in Kerala are given below:

• All the 15 lakhs households will be electrified by 2007 by effecting service connection to five lakhs per year. During 2004-05, 418814 and during 2005-06 (up to August 2005) 153784-service connections were made.
• Completed the energy audit to reduce system losses by metering all 11 KV and above feeders.
• Completed 100% metering of all consumers.
• MIS cell started functioning with head quarter at Trivandrum and two regional offices formed at Ernakulam & Kozhikode.
• Action for reducing expenditure and increasing revenue collection is expedited.
• Computerised billing & customers service centres at sections.
• In town schemes, completed all 54 sections.
• In Circle schemes completed all 88 sections.
• Anti Power Theft (APT) activities are intensified and APT wing has been reorganized. Anti power theft ordinance promulgated by Government of Kerala.
• Renovation and modernization (R&M) works of Pallivasal, Sengulam and Panniar were completed and the units were also commissioned.
• Renovation works of Neriamangalum hydel generating stations is nearing completion.
• Introduced Availability Based Tariff (ABT) in southern Region with effect from 1.1.2003 and Kerala is strictly following grid regulations.
• Government of Kerala has issued captive power policy on small hydro projects in January 2003.

Railways

In Thriuvananthapuram division, the total route length of railways is 494 km. Railway electrification work is in progress between Ernakulam Junction to Trivandrum Junction via Kottayam and Alleppey. The sub-sections have been commissioned recently are Ernakulam - Kottayam and Ernakulam - Alleppey - Kayamkulam.

The second highest earning division of southern railway is Thiruvananthapuram division. This division is basically passenger oriented with trains running from terminals at Trivandrum central, Ernakulam and Nagarcoil to all parts of the country. This division operates fifty-three numbers of express/mail trains and fifty-eight numbers of passenger trains and carry 2 lakh Passengers daily. The division for passenger amenities in 2004-05 has spent an amount of Rs. 2.94 crores.

Aviation

Kannur Airport

With private contribution, government is planning to set up an airport at Kannur. The implementation of this scheme has already taken speed and is in the preliminary stages of implementation.

Budget Airline (Kerala Airlines)

Government has proposed to set up a private airline, based on the suggestions made during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, to cater to the needs of the Non-resident Keralites. This scheme has already been acknowledged for speedy implementation.

Cargo Traffic

Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Ltd runs two Air Cargo Complexes at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode Airports. Government of India has recognized the company as the official export house for the promotion of exports. This company acts as the virtual office of Agricultural and processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, for the State of Kerala. The cargo complexes achieved a turnover of Rs. 681.82 lakh in 2004-05,

Ports

Along its coastal line of 585 kms Kerala has one major port at Cochin and 17 minor/intermediate ports.

Cochin Port

It is the only major port in Kerala. It is an ISO 9001-2000 Port. A study shows that 97 per cent of the total volume of traffic from the Cochin Port is accounted by Kerala, though the hinter land of the port spreads to parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka States.

Telecommunication

Way back in 1990, all the telephone exchanges in Kerala were made automatic for the first time in the whole country. Kerala also boasts of becoming the first state to provide public telephone facilities in all Panchayat headquarters and to provide public telephone in every village in the year 1992 and 1995 respectively.

Upto the year 2005 Kerala had a telephone density of 114.3 per thousand population. In Kerala the rural telephone density is 100 per 1000 population and urban telephone density is 153 per 1000 population. It also has a modern telecom network spanning its length and breadth and comprises of state-of-art-Digital switches interconnected by reliable Optical Fibre/Microwave/Satellite media. The state is served by 1207 automatic exchanges, all of which are Digital electronic in the year 2005.