Technopark expansion projects under way in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The registration process of 100 acres of land acquired for the third phase of expansion of Technopark and the work on providing basic infrastructure there are under way, said the Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan.

He said that a slew of other projects also formed part of the overall expansion of Technopark and these included campuses of Infosys and UST Global; construction of buildings by NeST, Tata Elxsi, Case Consultancy and TCS Development Centre; and a 4.72-lakh sq.ft, 15-storeyed building by Leela Group.

The other projects featuring in the expansion programme are construction of a ring road within Technopark, dining facilities and a conference hall.

The Chief Minister informed the House that around 18,000 people were working at the various companies in Technopark. The Government had so far invested Rs. 310 crore in the park, he added.

The Minister for Electricity, Mr A.K. Balan, said in reply to questions that as on July 2, 2008, the storage in the hydel reservoirs of the State was only 18.92 per cent of the total capacity and the quantum of power that could be generated from them was 781.45 million units.

Explaining the measures adopted by the State Electricity Board to tide over the power crisis in the State, the Minister said that half-hour load-shedding daily was introduced on June 27. Besides, the State has sought more allocation from the Central pool and started buying power available from other States through NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN).

Also, steps had been taken to optimise utilisation of the high-cost power from the thermal stations within the State, he added.

In reply to a question on the maintenance of hydel stations, Mr Balan said that the State Electricity Board was looking at the possibility of insuring the generators and transformers at these stations.

As the first step in this direction, estimates on the value of the equipment to be insured are being prepared, the Minister said.