Centre asks Kerala to hike generation in hydel units
The Hindu
Support sought during off-peak hours till Oct. 31
Given the severity of the coal-shortage crisis, the Union Ministry of Power has asked Kerala to provide support by increasing generation in storage-based hydroelectric stations such as the 780-MW Idukki power project, especially during off-peak hours.
In an October 14 letter, the Power Ministry asked Chief Secretary V.P. Joy to issue the necessary directions for providing the support till October 31. By then, “the demand on thermal generating stations is likely to be normalised,” it said.
There is scope for increasing generation at storage-based hydel stations in the State such as the Idukki power project during 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the daytime off-peak hours, in addition to the peak hours, the Ministry noted.
As speculation over the continuation of Minister for Scheduled Tribes Welfare B. Nagendra in the Cabinet persisted, with the demand for his resignation raised by the BJP in connection with the ₹94 crore scam at the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, his Cabinet colleagues came to his defence on Thursday.