Team Herald
PANJIM: Coming under severe criticism for frequent power cuts, Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar said that to give unrestricted power supply the State requires funds to the tune of Rs 15000 crore.
Madkaikar said infrastructure at various power sub-stations is old and needs to be changed which will be taken up in a phased manner. “The MLAs need to understand that the Power Department is dependent on various sub-stations and understand it is not simple to have unrestricted supply,” he said.
He said the government’s dream is to give unrestricted power and for this a comprehensive plan is being worked out.
Pointing to the criticism from MLAs, Madkaikar stated, “The Chief Minister and government have categorically said that there should be no differentiation between ruling and opposition constituencies. Light and water should be given to all and government is working towards that.”
He said the State has no scarcity of power but lacks proper infrastructure. “For example in Baga-Calangute the load-shedding is because there is no proper infrastructure. The department has planned 220×33 kva sub-station at Saligao which will solve problems of entire northern coastal line.”
Another sub-station is proposed at Tuem of 220×33 kva (for Mopa airport) and so also 33×11 KVA sub-station at Navelim, Balli, Colva, Calangute, Mandrem and Marcel. The department has also planned upgrading transformers at various places.
On demands for underground cabling, he said, it was not possible throughout Goa due to the huge cost involved. “However, we have planned changing of 1000 km of aerial bunch and very old conductors on LT lines within 1-2 years, at the cost Rs 150 cr, which should solve problem,” he said.
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Smart meters in Panjim
Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar said Panjim, which has been chosen for the Smart City project, will get smart meters and that there would be no delay in issuing monthly bills.
“The Tata Power consultancy’s IT Centre is coming up at the Kadamba plateau at the cost of Rs 115 cr. 90 percent work of this project has been completed and when completed this will solve problems like billing etc,” he said.
For Panjim, he said, smart meters will be fitted and the reading will be taken from the IT Centre. ”This will solve faulty reading and other billing issues.”
On inflated power bills, he said, the problem is due to negligence of meter readers. “This is sheer negligence of meter readers as they give average bills as they do not get exact reading many times if door is locked,” he said. He said the department has issued directions to staff to consult the consumers before issuing bills in case they find the bill is excess.
