ENERGY MINISTER CONNECTS POWER PLANT TO NATIONAL GRID

The first ever community hydropower plant was connected to the National Grid on Saturday by the Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka at Athuraliya in Ratnapura.

Under this scheme it was intended to provide electricity to 68 houses in the village, sufficient for lighting 4 bulbs and operating a TV set in each house. However with the supply of electricity to the Athuraliya Village from the National Grid two years ago, this minor electricity generating unit was shut down. Under the National scheme of “Electricity from Village – Grama Shakthi - introduced by the Ministry of Energy and Power this Kanduruvandola small scale generation unit was rehabilitated and electricity generated at a capacity of 18 kilowatts by it was re-commenced. About 15,000 units of electricity will be added to the National Grid monthly by this village power – house which would earn a monthly income of Rs. 100.000 to the vil-

There are minor electricity schemes operated in many countries in the world. But these schemes are more efficiently operated only in our country

lagers according to the Ceylon electricity Board. A cheque was also handed over yesterday to a woman in the village by the minister as the first payment for the electricity to the National Grid from the village, the ministry said in a statement.

Addressing the event Minister Ranawaka said, “There are minor electricity schemes operated in many countries in the world. But these schemes are more efficiently operated only in our country. At present there are about 100 such small schemes operated by private institutes and we hope to have more than 200 schemes in operation in the future. These small electricity schemes are a great asset to the National Electricity Grid despite the numerous obstacles encountered,” the Minister speaking at the occasion said.”