Kannur :

The first hydroelectric project in the district, coming up at Barapol in Ayyankunnu panchayat near Iritty, will be commissioned by the end of this month.

The work of the Rs 120-crore project is in the final stage and almost 96 % of the works have already been completed, said an official. Only some minor equipment are to be installed, which would be completed in the next few days.

The water flow through the canal to run the turbine was successful and the trial run will begin in the next few days to solve last minute glitches, he said.

“Though this is a small project with the capacity of producing only around 36 million units a year, which is hardly equal to the power consumption in the state in a day, the advantage is that the maximum production would be during the rainy season, which would help save the water in the dams like Idukki, and it could be used in the summer,” said Anil G, the executive engineer of the project.

He said a three megawatt solar power station is also coming up there, and the panels are being installed over the canal.

The power project is developed by making a three kilometer canal from Bharathapuzha coming from Coorg, and the water reaches through this canal at Palathinkadavu, where three turbines have been set up, which could produce 15 megawatt power a day.

The project is directly implemented by the KSEB and the power from Barapol would be taken to the 110 KV substation in Kunnoth, from where it would be distributed.

Apart from the power production, the power project would also increase the tourism potential of the place. Though major developments cannot be made there, as the Karnataka forest is nearby, KSEB is planning to develop some facilities like watch towers and gardens to promote hydel tourism, said the official.

Meanwhile the district tourism promotion council (DTPC) officials are also exploring the possibility of an ecotourism project there on the lines of Malampuzha. However, it is just in the planning stage and the project could be finalized only after getting environmental clearance, said officials.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kozhikode / TNN / January 02nd, 2016