'Kerala keen to complete mini hydel projects'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala was very much interested in renewing the MoU it signed with a Chinese public sector company in 1998 for setting up 18 mini hydro-electrical projects in the state, Power Minister A K Balan said on Friday.

Replying to the notice for an adjournment motion by K Babu (Cong) in the assembly, he said four hydel projects have already been completed and their performance level was high.

The government have taken preliminary steps to renew the MoU signed during the previous LDF government's tenure and had held talks with representatives of the Chinese firm during a recent visit to that country, he said.

The project would be taken up only after examining all aspects and no decision had been taken by the government in this regard, the minister said adding that the Kerala State Electricity Board would pay the arrears due to the company.

The Chinese company was under the direct control of UNO and there was no need for any concern on deals with them. The LDF government would actively pursue the goal of "power on demand, affordable tariff and stable electricity," he said.

Presenting the motion, Babu alleged that the government was showing undue haste in awarding the contract to the Chinese company without inviting global tenders.

The company had failed to meet the deadline set by the previous government for completion of the four projects taken up by them. Though the UDF was not against mini hydel projects the contracts should be awarded only after inviting competitive tenders, he said.

Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy said there were complaints about the generators and machinery installed by the company at four sites in the state and wanted the government to implement the new project in a transparent manner.