Blasting row at Upper Sengulam power project: KSEB to seek advice from Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) will engage experts from the CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) for resolving issues related to blasting operations for the Upper Sengulam hydroelectric project. Blasting operations for constructing a tunnel for the hydel project were halted on February 17 this year after local residents raised concerns regarding safety. Although meetings were held at the panchayat-level, the issue has not been resolved.

The KSEB is hoping that CIMFR experts can suggest a blasting pattern that will allow the work to resume. The tunnel being an important part of the hydel project, any delay in its construction will affect the progress of the project, the KSEB has noted.

The project area falls in Idukki district. The 24 MW project will use surplus water available at the Sengulam balancing reservoir after the commissioning of the Sengulam augmentation scheme and the 60 MW Pallivasal extension scheme. PGCCPL and Aryacon consortium had been awarded the contracts for the civil and hydromechanical works.