Kozhikode(Keralam) | Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday said that the 12 megawatt Maniyar hydroelectric project should be taken over by the government as the agreement leasing it to a private company expired two years ago.

Chennithala, speaking to reporters here, said that allowing the project to be operated by the private company after expiry of the lease period was "illegal".

"The lease was for 30 years. It is over. So, how can they (company) continue to use the power? The government should take it over. That was my stand earlier and even now," the minister said.

He said that the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had informed the company several times to relinquish control over the project, but that has not been done.

The Maniyar hydroelectric project was constructed and operated by Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUMI) under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) arrangement which reportedly ended in December 2024.

Its take over by the government is currently on hold as a panel is reportedly examining the company's application to extend the lease period.