PANJIM: Power Minister Sudin ‘Ramkrishna’ Dhavalikar on Wednesday said that the State government paid Rs 510 crore arbitration cost to the Reliance-Salgaocar Power Company Limited(RSPCL) as per the order of the Supreme Court.
Speaking to mediapersons, Dhavalikar said, “We had to pay arbitration award to the company (RSPCL) as per the Court order.”
During the last Assembly session, the opposition members had raised the issue of arbitration matter won by the independent power generating even as Dhavalikar had blamed the then Congress government for signing the agreement for 48 MW naphtha -based combined cycle power plant at Sancoale and which went into commercial operation from August 1999 till it was shut. The government has also formed a three-member committee to study the matter and submit the report, which will be laid on the table of the House, he said.
Dhavalikar claimed that the Electricity Department increased revenue by 20 per cent through recovery and without increasing the power tariff. He added that by March 2024, extra revenue of Rs 400 crore is likely to be added to the State treasury.
“We have not raised the power tariff in the State. Whatever raise that comes from top (Centre) i.e. 5 to 15 paise, we will have to do it,” he said.
Dhavalikar informed that power-related works to the tune of Rs 2,640 crore, including those that started last year will be taken up from October 15 this year as monsoon has receded. He said that initially works of Rs 1,600 crore will be taken up in all Assembly constituencies while, the newly built 63 MVA transformer at Verna will be commissioned on October 21. Also a newly built sub-station at Mandrem will be inaugurated on October 23.
He said that foundation stone for the new 63 MVA will be laid at Saligao, which once commissioned will improve the power scenario in entire Bardez and Pernem talukas.
When asked about the Goa Tamnar Transmission Project limited, he said, “The Tamnar power project is on. I cannot tell you when it will be completed. But as and when that happens, Goa and other States will benefit from it.”