MARGAO: Brushing aside criticism of the State’s Electricity Department for the frequent, unannounced power outages across Salcete, Power Minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar on Friday praised his department’s staff and linesmen for their hard work in rectifying faults during the monsoon season.
Dhavalikar also blamed power fluctuations in South Goa on delayed repair work being undertaken on power supply lines in Karnataka, and questioned the previous Congress government’s lack of infrastructure upgrades. He expressed confidence that 90% of electricity supply issues in the State would be resolved within two and a half years, thanks to the ongoing underground cabling project in both North and South Goa.
Dhavalikar was addressing the media in the presence of South Goa Superintending Engineer Rajiv Samant, after inaugurating the Any Time Payment Machine (ATPM) at the Power House in Aquem.
The Minister mentioned plans to upgrade the Cuncolim substation and construct new substations in Verna and Saligao. Dhavalikar also highlighted ongoing efforts to check faulty streetlights and the department’s decision to install fencing around transformers and switch boxes. Outsourcing maintenance work to an agency is under consideration.
Dhavalikar criticized previous governments for Goa’s reliance on external power generation, adding that the State and Central government’s aim was to achieve 50% power generation through renewable energy by 2030, and 100% by 2050, using solar and hydro solar projects.
Regarding the ATPM facility, officials said that it will allow consumers to pay electricity bills at any time and added that soon, water bills can be cleared here too, and that it could also work as an ATM facility in the future. Dhavalikar mentioned plans to expand ATPMs to Mapusa, Ponda, and Calangute.
