Thiruvananthapuram: At a time when the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is scrambling to secure electricity, a ₹13 crore solar power plant installed by ANERT at Amappara in Ramakkalmedu lies completely inactive. Although the plant is capable of generating power, it cannot be utilised. The station, which has a generation capacity of three megawatts, could not be connected to the KSEB grid. The failure lies in its inability to feed electricity into the network according to KSEB specifications, originating from structural flaws during construction. Laying an 11 kV feeder line to the Nedumkandam station has also proved entirely futile.

One of the flagship projects of the Pinarayi Vijayan government now lies abandoned and covered in wild growth. To conceal the shortcomings, the project was inaugurated on June 26, 2022. Officials departed after announcing that power generation would commence immediately, but nothing further materialised. Construction began in 2018 with the objective of generating three megawatts of electricity in phases by 2023. C-DIT and KELTRON were partners in the project.

Although the failure to commission the plant within the stipulated timeframe was a grave lapse, the issue was hushed up during the tenure of the previous government. A preliminary Vigilance inquiry had uncovered lapses in project execution; however, further action was stalled due to high-level influence.

The solar power plant, spread across four acres, appears all but deserted. Several panels have gone missing. Following a public controversy over the station being swallowed by wilderness, authorities have recently begun clearing the area.

Strong allegations have emerged that officials lacking adequate expertise and qualifications led the plant's construction. Lapses in supervision and execution ultimately prevented the plant from being integrated into the grid. Meanwhile, authorities stated that efforts to render the station operational are currently underway.