The northern most district of Kerala, Kasargod, is hopefully turning to the neighbouring Karnataka for its power needs. Three important proposals of Kerala over the laying and extension of electricity line from the neighbouring state is before the Karnataka government and all of them, if implemented will illuminate Kasargod.
The doubling of 110 KV electricity line from Thaudugoli near Natekal in Dakshina Kannada district to Mylatti in Kasargod; laying of 400 kv Udupi-Mylatti- Areekode line recommended by Central Electricity Regulatory Authority and Puthur-Mylatti line are the proposals at which Kasargod has pinned all its hopes.
The frequent power outage and low voltage are the perennial problems Kasargod has been facing since many years. As majority of the electricity is being supplied from the far-off 400 kv Madakathara (Trichur)--220 kv Areekode (Malappuram)--Kannur--Mylatti line, the transmission loss is high. Lack of sufficient number of transformers, power plants, lack of employees with KSEB (Kerala State Electricity Board) adds to the woes.
The district has approximately 4.6 lakh consumers with a consumption of 3.5 crore electricity unit per month.
Solution lies in Karnataka
If any problem occurs on Areekode line which is 280 km away from Kasargod, power will be taken from the Karnataka line, ie., line from Kadakola substation in Mysore towards Wayanad. But as this is some 303 km farther, the transmission loss and low voltage is unavoidable.
To address the problem, Kerala has been emphasizing on laying a 220 kv line from Puttur substation to Mylatti which is just 40 km away.
"The laying of 440 kv Udupi-Mylatti-Areekode-Madakathara line and the upgradation of Mylatti plant's capacity to 400 kv are the proposed permanant measures to address the power woes of Kasargod. But as this will take time, the laying of line from Puttur is paramount," stressed the KSEB Executive Engineer (Electrical) at Kasargod division, Surendran.
Another solution mooted was strengthening the 47 km of 110 kv Thaudugoli--Mylatti line to a double circuit one. Kerala government has approved the project and Rs 10 crore has been set aside for the same. But later, KSEB learnt that to tap the full potential of the proposed line, the 5.5 km line from Konaje to Thaudugoli should be doubled and strengthened first.
As the entire area falls in Karnataka, a letter seeking permission in this regard was sent by KSEB to Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) six months back, but no response was given yet, an official with KSEB Engineers' Association told Deccan Herald.