Kozhikode, January 31, 2026 – In a stark reminder of Kerala’s growing vulnerability to erratic weather patterns, the Vilangad Mini-Hydel Project in Nadapuram has come to a complete standstill. The facility, which has been a reliable source of local power for over a decade, has been rendered inoperable as its feeder river has dried up due to prolonged dry spells and intensifying summer heat.
Project Background: A Monsoon Marvel Born in 2014
Nestled in the lush terrains of Naripatta Grama Panchayath and Thinur village in Vadakara taluk, Kozhikode district, the Vilangad Small Hydro Electric Project (SHEP) was commissioned on September 1, 2014, during the tenure of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. This 7.5 MW run-of-the-river scheme (3 x 2.5 MW units) harnesses the waters of Vaniyampuzha and Kavadipuzha, tributaries of the Mahe River, making it a pioneering effort in small hydro power in Kerala. Designed primarily for monsoon operations, the project boasts innovative features: two diversion weirs (including the Valook Weir, a concrete gravity structure 7.9 meters high and 45.95 meters long), separate canals converging into a common forebay tank, and the longest 33 kV underground cable evacuation system in the state at the time. Built at a cost of Rs 59.49 crore, it generates an annual energy potential of 22.63 million units (MU), with surplus power fed into the Nadapuram 110 kV substation at Chiyoor via underground lines. Located about 85 km from Kozhikode city and 39 km from Vadakara railway station, the site is road-accessible, underscoring its strategic placement in one of Kerala’s high-rainfall zones averaging 3,851 mm annually. For nearly six months each year, it has powered local grids in areas like Vilangad, Vanimel, and Naripatta, reducing transmission losses and supporting rural electrification.
The Current Crisis: River Runs Dry, Lights Flicker Out
The shutdown marks a critical blow as summer demand surges. The Vaniyampuzha and Kavadipuzha rivers, which fuel the project, have dwindled to trickles amid below-average rainfall and rising temperatures, halting generation entirely. Power supply to Vilangad and surrounding regions now relies solely on feeds from the distant Kakkayam project and the Chiyoor substation, exacerbating shortages. Communities in Jathiyeri, Puliyavu, Kummankode, and Chalappuram are bearing the brunt, with frequent outages and voltage fluctuations plaguing daily life. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is scrambling to install new transformers to stabilize supply, but commissioning delays persist amid the crisis. As heat intensifies, officials warn of further spikes in consumption, straining an already overburdened grid.
Broader Implications: Climate Change and Energy Security in Kerala
The Vilangad episode underscores Kerala’s precarious balance between hydro-dependence and climate variability. Small hydro projects like this, comprising a significant portion of the state’s renewable portfolio, thrive on consistent monsoons but falter in dry seasons. With global warming altering rainfall patterns shorter monsoons followed by prolonged droughts such facilities risk becoming seasonal liabilities rather than assets. Nadapuram, known for its political vibrancy and occasional unrest, now grapples with tangible economic fallout: disrupted households, agricultural pumps idling, and small businesses in the dark. KSEB’s efforts to diversify through recent cabling and substation upgrades offer hope, but experts call for hybrid solutions like solar integration and better water management to future-proof local power.
Read more at: https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2026/01/31/vilangad-mini-hydel-project-shutdown.html