VASCO: Power Minister Nilesh Cabral has said that the streetlight policy likely to be finalised by the Cabinet next week.
The minister was addressing the reporters on the sidelines of Vidya Mandir School annual day, at Ravindra Bhavan Baina, where he was the chief guest.
“We will likely to short close the contract where in EESL was supposed to get around Rs 246 crore in ten years,” he said and appealed people to opt for solar energy.
He said that under the new policy, the government would get the ownership of the LED streetlights and the Electricity Department would look after its maintenance. Under the new policy, the minister estimated that the government would save Rs 85 crore.
He informed that personnel are being trained in repairing faulty LED lights.
Explaining benefits of opting solar energy and how to go about installing it, he said that Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA). “Although initially it is bit costly, this can be easily recovered with government subsidy and saving electricity bill,” he said.
Cabral informed that after he became the minister, the department had established solar policy and to encourage people to go for the solar power system, it was decided to give 50 percent subsidy for three years.
“Any person wanting solar panel can approach GEDA which will do the panelling. Initially, the consumer has to bear the cost, but this can be easily recovered through the subsidy and electricity bill savings. Soon after the ZP elections, we will release our first subsidy to around 45 people who have completed six months of installing the solar panels and connecting to grid,” Cabral said.
