Panjim: The State Power Minister Nilesh Cabral on Wednesday publicly ruled out replicating the Delhi Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) model of “free electricity” to consumers in Goa, as he elaborated about how the Arvind Kejriwal led-government is providing “no cost” power through public exchequers.
Defending the AAP model, its Goa leader Valmiki Naik alleged that the “inefficiency” and “corrupt” practices of the BJP-led government has made power supply in Goa most expensive and unreliable.
The much-hyped power debate between Cabral and Naik held on Wednesday was however a disappointment for the public, who were expecting a fiery fight between the duo, on the electricity model across two States. Hardly two per cent of the State’s 15 lakh population was witness to the live public debate held at EDC that was attended by the media in full-strength.
Both Cabral and Naik produced documentary evidence to support their argument that their model of electricity is the best. Both of them also exchanged various charges criticising each other’s model and pointing out what they claimed to be were flaws.
Naik pointed out that in Delhi those consuming between 0- 200 units get free power, and from 200 units to 400 units get 50 per cent subsidy on the bill and hence pay only half the actual amount. He challenged the Sawant-led government to replicate the model.
Stating that there is no question of providing “free” electricity to Goans, Cabral emphasized about how Delhi AAP government is paying the power bills of its consumers from public exchequer in the name of “free” supply. He produced a bill, wherein a consumer has consumed 166 units of power in Delhi and a bill amount of Rs 662 is generated. “Though the consumer is not paying the bill, it is being paid by the government. And from where is the government of Delhi paying it? From public money,” he said.
He said that in Delhi Rs 3.98 per unit is the cost of power for the first 200 units, wherein Goa provides it for Rs 2.10 per unit to its consumers. For 200-400 units of power, per unit charge is Rs 4.23 in Delhi, whereas in Goa it is only Rs 2.31 per unit, the Minister informed.
“What Delhi government is providing is a scheme, under which free power is given. It is similar to the schemes offered like Griha Aadhar, Laadli Laxmi or DSSS,” Cabral claimed.
Finally admitting it to be a scheme, the AAP leader questioned why a similar scheme cannot be implemented in Goa. “Goans have the right to get cheap and reliable power. But due to corruption and inefficiency, it is not happening. Poor infrastructure is yet another reason,” he said.
He also pointed out that Goa has the highest transmission and distribution losses in the country.
Responding to the same, the Minister said that the Delhi government has outsourced its electricity management to private firms, who are running it on a profit based model. “We have not outsourced our power department. Our model is not a profit making model. I admit of not being able to provide 24×7 power supply due to poor infrastructure,” he said.
He further added, ‘in the next one year’s time, we intend to cover the entire Goa with 33KV underground cabling and also generate around 300MW of solar power for local consumption’.
Naik, however, defended his Delhi government stating “the profit-making model was implemented during the then Sheila Dixit-led Congress government’.
Implying that the BJP-led State government’s nine-year tenure was a failure, Naik sought to know from Cabral whether he admits that he has failed as power Minister…his government failed to give good governance….his Chief Minister Pramod Sawant failed.
Cabral, however, expressed confidence to bring change in the power sector in next one year. He also threw a challenge to Naik to throw out the BJP-led government in 2022 and show. “Our government will run for 25 years. If you have guts, throw us out,” he commented.
