Team Herald
PANJIM: Environmentalist Claude Alvares recently alleged that the State government has proposed an additional 220 kV line to be installed on 440 kV Tamnar line in a bid to allow five Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the State.
According to Alvares, while inspecting the files in the Electricity Department, he came across that the department has proposed an additional 220 kv line to be installed on 400 kv transmission line and the reasons given is to allow five SEZs at different locations across the State.
It is pertinent to note that in 2008, following protest by the people the then Digambar Kamat government scrapped SEZs in the State and had requested the Government of India to denotify the approved SEZs. In 2006, the Goa government had recommended 15 SEZs to the Centre out of which seven SEZs were approved.
Alvares had said, “There is a lot that Goans don’t know that is going to happen in the State. We were inspecting the files for the Goa Tamnar project in the Electricity Department. The Department has asked for an additional 220 kV to be installed on 440 kV line and reasons given are five SEZs at different locations of Goa. Kamat government had scrapped SEZ Policy in Goa in 2006. Today the Electricity Department is preparing the ground for five SEZs in different parts of Goa. It is in the file. We will be applying under the RTI Act to get the copies. This is the extent. Goans don’t know about it. They are innocent people concerned in their villages and festivals.
But over and above Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane and others are playing with the entire scenario of Goa. There are plans for Goa, if I disclose them now, people will go to their (Ministers) houses in a rage and boot them out of office.”
Meanwhile, the Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Limited (GTTPL) has issued a notice asking public in certain specified areas to stay away from its transmission tower and line in view of commencement of the supply of 400 kV & 220 kV high voltage electricity through the newly constructed and existing transmission lines any time on or after October 12.
It had warned that they will not be responsible for any damage or accident that may occur if the public does not pay heed to the warning notice issued in this regard. The areas for which the warning has been issued include Line Name- 400 kV D/c Xeldem-Mapusa Transmission Line in villages of Colvale, Tivim, Aldona, Corjuem, Mayem, Bicholim, Piligao, Karapur, Virdi, Amona, Navelim, Kudnem, Surla, Pale, Usgao, Ganjem, Dharbandora, Conqurirem, Melauli and Sancordem.
Line Name- 220 kV HTLS D/c Xeldem–Xeldem (existing) Transmission Line villages of Bandoli, Codli, Dharbandora, Sangod, Amona, Xeldem, Cacora, Hodar, Curchorem, Sanvordem and Rumbrem in South Goa.
Tamnar has completed construction work of Xeldem-Mapusa 400 kV D/c (Quad) line and Xeldem-Xeldem (existing) 220 kV HTLS D/c line transmission lines.
The Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Limited was envisioned to create an additional source of power for Goa in 2015. However, in March 2024, the Karnataka government rejected the proposal for Goa-Tamnar power project, and had refused to divert 174.652 hectares of forest land in Dharwad, Haliyal, Dandeli Wildlife and Belagavi division, in favour of power lines.
Meanwhile, expressing its concern about the public notice issued by GTTPL, the Goa civic and consumer action network (GOACAN) has decided to write to the North and South Goa Collectors and the Chief Electrical Engineer to inquire if the GTTPL has informed all the concerned sub-divisional officers (SDOs) and taluka mamlatdars about the charging of the transmission lines and provided them with safety guidelines and rules as required under the Electricity Act 2003.
GOACAN has decided to raise the issue at the forthcoming gram sabha meetings under its RTI and ‘Gram Sabha Zagrut Za’ campaigns so as to aware the consumers about the right to safety. It will also write to directorate of Agriculture and Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services in view of the danger to farmers and animals respectively.