PANJIM: Facing flak from all quarters regarding the frequent power outages across the State,
Power Minister Nilesh Cabral has blamed the power supply issues from Karnataka as the main reason behind the current issue in South Goa. He pointed out that there the power supply from Karnataka has been interrupted several times.
Addressing a press conference, Cabral said that Goa does not produce power and hence depends on two grids. The first is the western grid of 500 mw for North and Central Goa. The second is the southern grid of 220 mw, which serves entire South Goa.
“We need to understand that the 220 kva and 110 kva lines pass from the dense forest and there are frequent interruptions during the monsoons. Besides for South Goa, where the power comes from Karnataka, the stretch is of 80 km, of which 40 km is in that State and hence we have no jurisdiction to carry out repairs. We have to depend on them,” he said.
He said in the last 6 months there have been 90 major interruption, out of which 80 to 85 were from the Karnataka side, while the rest were from Goa
“As we talk to you at present, there is an ongoing power cut for the last 10 hours from Karnataka. The power was interrupted at 9.28 am,” he said.
Speaking about their plans to find an immediate solution, Cabral said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has granted approval for connecting the North Goa grid supply to South Goa.
“Whatever excess supply we get in the North Goa, we will supply it to the South Goa in the next 10 to 15 days,” he said adding that there were very few power outages in the North grid line comparatively.
Stating that underground cabling in the entire State would not be a solution as the interrupted supply has to come from another State.
Besides, he said, even in places where there is underground cabling, the other agencies have been digging and cutting power cables.
“As an immediate measure, the entire 11 kva and 33 kva lines will be converted to underground, which will be ready in the next few days,” he said.
He added that the CM has assured to grant all financial approvals.
