KOCHI: In a significant move to rebuild core infrastructure in the landslide-hit regions of Wayanad, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has granted a Rs52.12 crore project aimed at restoring and modernising the electricity distribution network in Chooralmala and Mundakkai under Meppadi grama panchayat.
According to a KSEB document, the plan involves laying an underground 11kV cable network from the Koothamunda substation to Chooralmala, revamping damaged low-tension lines, and installing new transformers -all designed with disaster-resilient features.
The project also includes developing the power network for a proposed township and constructing a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)-controlled control room to manage the underground grid more effectively.
Solar-powered LED streetlights and a 70 kWp solar-supported battery energy storage system are also part of the plan.
To fast-track execution, KSEBL has set up a dedicated Distribution Construction Sub-Division (DCSD), staffed through redeployment within Wayanad to avoid additional costs.
KSEB has also decided to entrust key components of the work to the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) on a turnkey basis, citing special government provisions, as the agency is already executing related projects in the area.
An administrative block will be constructed by KSEB’s civil wing, and remaining works will be tendered with an expedited 10-day bid submission period.
Govt slammed
However, even as this project brings some optimism, it has also reignited criticism over the broader pace of rehabilitation. Locals and opposition parties have slammed the state government for what they call a sluggish and inadequate response nearly a year after the July 2024 landslides.
Protests have erupted over delays in disbursing rent assistance to displaced families, and many complain that basic needs — such as housing, healthcare, and livelihoods – remain unaddressed.
While KSEB’s initiative is a step toward long-term disaster preparedness and energy reliability, critics argue it cannot be a substitute for a full-scale, people-centered rehabilitation plan. The unfolding tension underscores the urgency for the government to match infrastructure rebuilding with tangible support for affected communities.
