62 SOCIAL SCIENTIST by the present study., the total generation by all the governmental undertakings together amounted to 350 million units. The real breakthrough was achieved only with the exploitation of hydel resources. While all the thermal stations together generated only less than 4 million units in 1940-41, the Pallivasal hydro-electric project alone accounted for 11.2 million units in the same year. The arrival of hydro-electric power led to the extension of the distribution network to the countryside; it also led to the extension of the use of electricity for industrial and agricultural production. Power development promoted mostly under state auspices brought Kerala close to self-sufficiency towards the end of the period under review. Its significance, however., should not be exaggerated since per capita consumption., industrial as well as non-industrial., remained at extremely low levels by modern standards. E T MATHEW [I am grateful to P G K Paniker, P R Gopinathan JVair and M A Oomen for valuable comments on an earlier draft. 1 Albert 0 Hirschman, The Strategy of Economic Development, Yale University Press, New Haven 1958, p 80. 2 Cochin Administration Report for the year 1092 ME, Malayalam Era. (1916-17 AD) p4L Cochin Administration Report for the year 1094 ME (1918-19 AD) p 37. 3 Cochin Administration Report for the year 1111 ME (1935-36 AD) p 57. 4 T K Velu Pillai, The Travancore State Manual, vol III, pp 498-500. 5 Proceedings of the Sri Mulam Popular Assembly of Travancore, 25th Session, 1929 p278, 6 Proceedings of the 28th session of the Sri Mulam Popular Assembly of Travancore, p 13. 7 Proceedings of the Sri Mulam Assembly of Travancore (First Assembly, First Session) p 153. 8 The Electrical Engineer of the Government stated in the Sri Mulam Assembly (First Assembly, First session) in 1933 that any return above 5 per cent would be ^adequate*. 9 Proceedings of the Sri Mulam. Assembly (First Assembly, First Session) p 813 10 Proceedings of the Sri Mulam Assembly (First Assembly, Eighth session)vo\ III, pp 287-88 11 Proceedings of the Sri Mulam Assembly (First Assembly, First Session) p 818. 12 Ibid., p 27. 13 The estimated cost ofRs 70.76 lakhs was allocated as follows: Rs lakhs Hand work 31 73 Transmission 20.07 Distribution 5.96 Supervision 3.00 Contingencies 2.50 Other miscellaneous charges including interest on capital outlay 5.50 Total 70.76 14 Proceedings of the Sri Mulam Assembly (Second Assembly, llth Session, 1942) vol XX,pp291 and 661.