New Delhi, Feb 11: Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde will declare Palakkad in Kerala as the country's first 'total electrified district' Feb 16 at a function in Ottapalam in the state.

"With the announcement being made by Shinde, the electricity will reach each home in the district, even in houses located in remote tribal areas, where the electricity could not reach for more than 50 years," Kerala Electricity Minister A.K. Balan told IANS Thursday on phone from Palakkad.

He said the state government and the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), with the assistance of MP fund, MLA fund, SC/ST fund and the funds provided by the local governments like panchayats and municipalities, have electrified "whole houses" in the 11 assembly constituencies in the district to make Palakkad the first total electrified district in the country.

"An amount of Rs.520 crore has been spent for power infrastructure development in 11 assembly constituencies in the district. The KSEB has set up many sub-stations and transformers along with other basic infrastructure," Balan said.

"Electricity will reach even at Moola Ganga, a tribal settlement in Kerala-Tamil Nadu border in the district. A 20-km-long power circuit has been set up to take electricity to this tribal area in a forest in Sholayar grama panchayat," said Balan, who is also the Kerala's SC/ST development minister.

Electrification of all houses in the district was completed Thursday, he said.

Balan said the state government has made elaborate arrangements to make it a historic event Feb 16.

"Exhibitions, cultural programmes and seminars have been organised ahead of the historic declaration by the union power minister," he said.

At least 50,000 people will participate in the declaration function at Ottapalam, he said.

Chief minister V.S. Achuthanadan and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Oommen Chandy would be among those who would attend the function.

The minister said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government was committed to complete electrification of 100 assembly segments during the current calendar year.

The state has 141 assembly segments.