 The hydel project is also reported to be anti-people and only would harm the state’s interest when it takes away water from an existing irrigation system, which covers 20,000 acres of farmland downstream and about 5 lakh people reportedly depend upon the river for drinking and irrigation purposes.But experienced and retired inclined members of KSEB like K. Radhakrishnan, who have been campaigning for the implementation of the Athirappilly hydroelectric project for long has welcomed the decision with overly exaggerated results like monthly 20 megawatts and if other issues could dismissed it could be topped over 40 megawatts per month according to the summer seasons while Power Survey Report, estimate the state’s power requirement to reach at 6500 MW by 2020.Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forest T M Manoharan, who was the Chairman of the Kerala State Electricity Board opposed the project citing the harm it could cause to the environment and ecology of the area.