The discussion on the use of solar energy in Goa has been going on for long, but there has been little done to take it forward. The Solar Energy Policy is in place, but beyond that the implementation remains still in the pipeline. The recent conference on solar energy by the Confederation of Indian Industries was another opportunity to take it forward and the right statements were made. Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar said that the government was keen in developing green energy in the State, especially since this was the mandate of the Prime Minister and the target for India was generation of 175 GW of renewable energy.
The State too has a target. The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has set Goa a target of producing 150MW of solar power by 2021 and in the first year, Goa intends to generate 70megawatts but is yet to even invite tenders to generate solar power, though this process is now in the final stages. What emerged from the conference, through one of the speakers is the lack of solar energy technologies and investments entering Goa as compared to states like Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. What he suggested is that the government should encourage private investment in solar energy and avoid complicated procedures in tariff, subsidies. There is no ignoring the fact that the potential for producing solar power in Goa exists, and the State, that is entirely reliant on power produced from beyond its borders, may even be able to generate a fair bit of power through this.
While the challenges in solar energy abound, the good thing that emerged from the conference is that ministers are talking of renewable energy and aware of its importance.
One Minister, Vijai Sardesai, did admit that alternate energy is the way forward and is the solution to global warming. Sardesai at the conference said that ‘by intensifying solar energy we will be able to make the earth sustainable and eco-friendly and ready for the future’. Another Minister, Mauvin Godinho expressed his frustration at the slow pace at which solar energy was being used in the State, calling on the private and public sector to make things move faster. Significantly, Godinho said, “Today we install one panel on top of a building and call it green, we have been reduced to making these token symbolisms.”
Given that it is almost half a year since the State cabinet approved the Solar Power Policy and a couple of months since it has been notified, Godinho’s comment of ‘token symbolism’ begins to ring true, especially since there have been a string of delays in getting the policy itself ready. It was expected in July last, but was pushed forward until the cabinet finally approved it in December 2017. At that time, the policy was expected to be functional by the end of the last financial year, i.e March 2018, with the government saying it would even show an impact by then. It was notified only in that month and two months later even the first tender has not been issued.
Moving from symbolism to actual users of solar energy is what the government has to focus on at this point of time, and do it quickly. It calls for action if targets set by the JERC and the State itself are to be met. Renewable energy needs to be given a boost over fossil fuels. The latter will get exhausted some day, so the earlier renewable fuels are begun to be used, the faster will the dependence on fossil fuels be reduced.
