Team Herald
PANJIM: Power Minister Nilesh Cabral has challenged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for a debate to compare how the power departments of the two State function with regard to promises of free electricity upto 300 units, 24/7 electric supply etc made by Kejriwal, which Cabral labelled as ‘misleading’.
Cabral alerted public not to get carried away with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has promised to do in Goa reasoning against its feasibility in the State and warned that it can be damaging to the public in the long run.
Cabral claiming of earlier having similar debate with Delhi government’s power minister questioned if Kejriwal was trying to lure his Delhi voters who have their ‘second, third and fourth homes’ in Goa.
“These Delhites barely spend ten days in such houses in Goa. Going by what Kejriwal has promised, they will barely consume more than 300 units, which mean they will get free electricity. The Goa government provides financial assistance that goes directly into the accounts of Goans,” Cabral, while referring to the Griha Aadhar, Laadmi Laxmi schemes etc.
He said the amount of funds given to each family via such schemes is bigger than 300 units for free electricity and asked why Kejriwal is not implementing such welfare schemes.
Cabral drawing comparison said rates in Goa are comparatively much lesser as opposed to Delhi. He also pointed out that once more than 300 units are consumed, the rates are very steep and how it would turn out to be more expensive. He also rejected the argument that most people consume less than 30%, while providing a profile of Goa’s domestic consumer. He added that the State government has managed to see that families have power and that when it’s not raining; more or less continuous power supply is achieved.
He said Goa has 60% green cover which is far bigger compared to Delhi and if 24/7 electricity supply is to be given; a lot of trees would have to be cut and he questioned if this is what AAP plans on doing.
He also said the infrastructure such as substations and transmission lines in Goa is being improved and that tenders with crore or rupees for underground cabling are to be approved, which was only delayed because of the pandemic.
He also said the Delhi government has not done what the Goa government had done, that is provide 50% subsidy for solar roof top installation, a policy that is helping the State generate 30 megawatts of solar power which will be generated by the end of 2021.
The BJP MLA further referred to criticism of Delhi’s development by Delhi citizens and asked Kejriwal to first solve their woes before thinking of Goa as he claimed that most of the revenue Delhi government gets is used for these freebies instead of critical sectors that warrant attention.
“The government cannot print money and then give it. Whatever we earn and spend is from taxes. Unlike the Electricity department in Delhi, Goa does not have outstanding debt to power generators. This power is not given for free,” said Cabral, adding that where all the power is given to for ‘free’ should also be examined. He said such freebies could lead to an influx of migrants to Goa, which would compound problems faced by locals.
“Power distribution companies supplying power to the Delhi Government owe more than 2000 Crores to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), due to non payment of their dues, which is a serious concern on the sustainability of the generating companies,” said Cabral. He warned that the burden of cost later on would be shifted onto the consumers.
“Similarly the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has an outstanding loan of more than Rs 26,000 crore and no amount was repaid in the last five years,” said Cabral, while presenting various documentary evidence to back his statements.
Cabral further added that while industrial and commercial consumers are the major consumers of power in the Goa, they are cross subsidising the remaining category of consumers. “Moreover the tariff of such consumers in Goa are much lower than the tariff of Industrial and commercial consumers at Delhi,” he said.
