Jairam Ramesh flays government move to implement Athirappally project

Senior Congress leader and former union environment minister Jairam Ramesh has criticised the move by the Kerala government to implement the Athirapally project. 

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had, on Monday, said the government would like to go ahead with the 163 MW hydropower project at Athirapally waterfalls in Kerala. However, a section of ministers and the Communist Party of India (CPI), a key partner in the LDF government, has been opposing the project citing ecological concerns. 

Ramesh said the government’s move to implement Athirappally project is incomprehensible. It is the contractors who are trying to get the project implemented. There are several other means for the state to satisfy its energy requirements, Ramesh said.

"I was surprised by the decision of Pianrayi Vijayan. He was an accused in the SNC Lavlin case. I don't understand why he is going ahead with Athirappally project," the Congress leader said. 

The state electricity minister has said that the government would implement the project if a consensus is reached with environmentalists and other organisations. 

The hydroelectric project across the Chalakkudy river has been in abeyance for more than 15 years. The project was revived during the tenure of LDF government in 2006-11. The UDF government too had tried to get clearance for the project.