MARGAO: Chief Electrical Engineer (CEE) Stephen Fernandes on Friday said that even though the Goenkars want uninterrupted quality power supply, they are however not allowing the department to get the Tamnar power line.
Fernandes further added that people don’t even allow the Electricity department to dig a single trench on the road for laying underground power line.
He was speaking at the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) public hearing in South Goa.
Fernandes further said that load shedding is happening due to the delay in having the Tamnar Power line.
“While on one hand people want uninterrupted quality power supply, while on the other hand, they are not allowing the department to get the Tamnar power line. The line will be ultimately installed, but the delay is a concern,” he said.
He said that there is no clarity regarding conducting tree audit pertaining to tree falling on power lines, causing disruption in supply.
“The scenario regarding pruning of trees is complex. While there are people who demand cutting of trees to prevent power outage due to tree falling, there are others who don’t want us to cut a single branch. It is not that easy for us,” Fernandes said.
In Goa, 60 percent of power is supplied through overhead lines and there are 6.50 lakh domestic consumers. The CEE said that a lot of investment has been made to improve the power infrastructure.
“Rs 950 crore worth investment was made last year for improvement of power infrastructure. Electricity Department is working on giving compensation for power outages,” the CEE said.
Abhijit Prabhudesai of Rainbow Warriors, while questioning the statement of the CEE on Tamnar Line said, “When there is a 990 megawatt (MW) transmission line already installed, why do we need another line? Our peak demand is not higher than 600. So why do we need another transmission line? Under the guise of new transmission line, they are trying to hand it over to Sterlite power company,” he alleged.
“In the cost of the new line which is worth Rs 2000 crores in which they can install 400 MW free solar panels on each house of Goans. Everyone gets free electricity, Government meets PM Modi’s target of solar power generation and people can sell power and get money for it,” he said.
Convenor of GOACAN Roland Martins said, “We have been insisting to have the meeting in South Goa along with North. Since it has started now, we expect lot of consumers to participate,” he said.
Ramona Almeida, Convenor of Navelim Civic and Consumer said that the people need to be informed how the electricity department functions.
“Sometimes there are 24-hour outages in Navelim, which is strange,” she said.
