Undeterred by the criticism that the Athirappilly hydroelectric project may cause irrevocable environment damage, the Kerala State Electricity Board Undeterred by the criticism that the Athirappilly hydroelectric project may cause irrevocable environment damage, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) continues to bat for it.

The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), appointed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), has recommended that the proposal should not be cleared citing its environmental impacts. The KSEB proposes a project with an installed capacity of 163 MW across the Chalakudy river.

Chalakudy River is yearning for a lifeline. Chalakudy River, the fifth largest river in the State, is faced with a series of risks including sand-mining, release of untreated effluents from an industrial unit and improper disposal of solid waste.

The environmental monitoring programme on water quality of the Chalakudy River Basin carried out by the Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment has brought out the challenges faced by the river.

Nitta Gelatin India Limited (NGIL) at Kathikudam, near here, has refuted the charge that the untreated effluents released by the company have been polluting the Chalakudy River.

Treatment plant

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, NGIL managing director G.

The interference of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) spelled doom for the Athirappilly Hydel Power Project in the State, Power Minister A.K. Balan has said.

Sudha Nambudiri

KOCHI: It is indeed ironic that Kerala with its large number of waterbodies is facing water shortage.

The proposed Chalakudy Hydel Project, the seventh along the 145-kilometre journey of the already dammed river, could submerge 140 hectares of prime forestland which is home to diverse species of fauna including the Great Indian Hornbill and the Asiatic Elephant. The dam site is a key elephant corridor, points out Akber Ayub

THRISSUR: There is no dearth of examples to substantiate the observations made the other day by Sukumar Azhikode - 'expert opinions are often untrue, farce' - while inaugurating dharna against the proposed Athirappilly hydroelectric project here.

An example is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the project which was carried out by Water and Power Consultency Services Private Limited (WAPCOS), Hariyana.

The Kerala State Electricity Board had assigned the study to WAPCOS on October 8, 2002 and the consultants submitted the study report to KSEB next year.