No tariff hike till power is supplied 24x7: Minister

Team Herald

PANJIM: Categorically stating that there will be no hike in power tariff unless the department is able to provide 24x7 power to consumers, Power Minister Nilesh Cabral on Tuesday assured that 95 per cent of the woes of the Bardez coastal belt would be solved by May.

Addressing the media, Cabral said, his department is committed to people’s issues and hence decided not to hike power tariff at this time. “Till there is 24x7 power supply there would be no tariff hike,” he stated. 

He said the department has decided to scrap the new Extra High Power sub-stations at Tuem and Verna. “As you all know the government does not have that much of money to spend. We are taking up projects based on priority,” he said.

Cabral also mentioned that the Verla-Canca line, which was under litigation, due to opposition of farmers and locals has been solved. “We have charged the line now and will soon fully charge it, this will solve major issues of Calangute-Candolim area,” he said.

Similarly, he said the government has given approval for the new unmanned 

high power sub-station at Saligao. “The tenders for the new sub-station will be out within a month and once the sub-station comes up a majority of problems of Bardez coastal belt like Calangute, Candolim, Sinquerim, Baga, Anjuna, Siolim will be sorted,” he said.

Asked why were the Tuem and Verna sub-stations scrapped, he said, the government does not need any wasteful expenditure as of now. “We have a high power sub-station in Cuncolim from 2010, which was taken up at a cost of Rs 86 cr, but till date only 30 per cent of the capacity is being used. We will shift a transformer from there to Tivim, which will give us additional power in North Goa,” he said.

On Porvorim, he said, there would be a line from Xeldem to Verna-Ponda- to Kadammba Plateau to Porvorim. “This arrangement will give another 17 MVA power to Porvorim,” he said.