Kochi: The Kerala government’s effort to go in for small hydel power projects is likely to receive a boost with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation’s (UNIDO) regional centre for small hydro power opening here tomorrow.

State Power Minister Kadavoor Sivadasan says UNIDO’s centre will assist the state financially and technically to set up small hydel projects.

The centre will also undertake a survey and feasibility study on small hydel projects in the state, Sivadasan says. It is estimated that the state has a potential to set up 400 small hydel projects with a total power generation capacity of 800-1,000mw.

Sivadasan says UNIDO will provide $1.25 lakh for setting up the centre in cooperation with Kerala energy management centre. The centre will be inaugurated by Chief Minister A K Antony. UNIDO director-general Carlos Magarifios will also attend the function.

Referring to the present power situation in the state, Sivadasan says water levels in dams are low. “But there is no crisis in the sector due to the additional allotment of 200mw daily from power trading corporation at a reasonable rate.”

Kerala State Electricity Board has also started the work of Meenamkutty, Sabarigiri, Kuttiyadi augumentation and Neriyamangalam power projects, the works for which were halted during the previous Left Democratic Front regime.