Chief Minister to inaugurate Pallivasal extension scheme on Thursday

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the Pallivasal Extension Scheme, a major hydroelectric project in the Idukki district, on Thursday at 11 am. According to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) Public Relations Officer, the Chief Minister will also officially inaugurate the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Idukki Hydroelectric Project, the State’s largest power project.

The Pallivasal Extension Scheme adds 60 megawatts (MW) of capacity to the State’s power grid through two 30 MW generators. Designed to harness surplus water from the original Pallivasal project — Kerala’s first hydroelectric venture, commissioned in 1940 — the extension is expected to produce 159.30 million units of electricity annually.

Power generation at Pallivasal utilises water stored in the Kundala and Mattupetty dams in Munnar. This water is diverted through a 3.5 km tunnel to the powerhouse to generate electricity. The total cost of the extension project is ₹594.37 crore. With its completion, a total of 100 MW of new capacity has been integrated into the State’s hydel power sector.

Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty will preside over the function. Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine, Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose, MLAs M.M. Mani and A. Raja, and KSEB chairman Minhaj Alam among others will attend the function.