11 million units of electricity per year from local stream; Idukki native's innovation getting discussed

IDUKKI: Rakesh Roy, a Kambilikandam native, first came as a visitor to farmland in Mukkudam and was gripped by its beauty. Rakesh brewed some innovative ideas and the instant glimpse of the brook with its powerful water flow pushed him to try his innovative limits. And now, at this same location, there is a project that can generate 11 million units of electricity per year. In a magnanimous deed, Rakesh decided to give 10,000 units per month for free to Adimali Taluk Hospital where his father and grandfather once worked.

Electricity has been flowing to KSEB for a week now from Rakesh’s Mukkudam project. This is the twelfth private hydropower project in Kerala and the fifth in Idukki. The initiative became a reality after Rakesh teamed up with his classmates to work on the project.

It was precisely nine years ago that Rakesh first studied the overflowing nature of water in the brook and pondered over the high current in the stream. In his mind, the possibility of generating electricity through this stream was a surety. Rakesh thus contacted his old pals from FISAT Engineering College to work on this project.

Together with Rakesh as the CMD, the seven started a company called Electro Energy Private Limited in 2014. Unni S. Shankar (Thodupuzha) S.J. Nitish (Kollam), M. Ranjini (Alappuzha), Cyriak Jose (Kottayam), E.M. Faris (Kodungallur) and Rijo Joseph (Chalakkudy) are the partners.

A project report of one megawatt was submitted to the government in December 2015. Permission was granted in March 2018 and construction work started soon. After realizing that four megawatts of water would be available, permission was obtained for the same. It was completed in four and a half years.

There are 12 employees currently working on the hydropower plant. The total cost of the project was Rs 11.6 crores. A 10-meter-high and 29.45-meter-long dam was constructed at Chaturakallippara. Water was pumped through a 1310-meter-long penstock. Two turbines with a capacity of two megawatts will generate electricity. Electricity will be supplied to KSEB's Neriamangalam powerhouse, which is two kilometres away.