Kerala water authority (KWA) is reportedly gearing up to install solar panels in its properties to reduce electricity consumption. Water resources minister K Krishnankutty speaking to ET said will help the cash-strapped KWA, which spends Rs 23 crore every month to Kerala state electricity board (KSEB).
For the operation of 75-mld water treatment plant at Aruvikkara in the district KWA has started installation of 50-kW solar plant.
The minister speaking to the reporters here said “We have conducted a preliminary study to understand the use of solar plants so that we could cut down on power charges.”
So far KWA was getting only Rs 4 per kilolitre of water while the cost of production is Rs 24 said additional chief secretary Viswas Mehta.
The state is taking necessary steps to ensure drinking water during summer considering the weak summer rains and poor northeast monsoon.
He said that priority was to commission all water supply schemes that were stuck due to delay in laying distribution networks. “Various plants with a total capacity of 1,000 million litres per day are yet to commission due to delay in laying of distribution networks. These projects, worth around Rs 7,000 crore, will be revived through various schemes such as rebuild Kerala,” he said reports the publication.