Mapusa: Power Minister Nilesh Cabral has requested Union Minister R K Singh to grant Rs 2,000 crore as financial aid to undertake the project to boost power infrastructure including underground cabling in Goa.
Cabral during his meeting with Union Minister informed that Goa has 40 percent green cover and faces major disruption of power supply during monsoons. Since Goa being a small, it’s difficult for the State to manage funds from internal sources and requires Central funds to undertake project to boost power infrastructure.
Cabral submitted a memorandum and requested the Minister’s personal intervention to arrange 50 per cent grants i.e. Rs 1000 crore from Centre and the remaining Rs 1,000 crore in form of long term loan.
Cabral also sought for additional power supply during peak hours.
Power Minister said, “Goa requires underground cabling since the State faces major power disruptions during monsoon as 40 per cent of Goa has green cover. We have requested for grant and interest-free loan from the Centre and the Union minister has assured to look into this personally.
Speaking to the media, Cabral informed that power grids from Kolhapur are supplying excess power to Goa. However, the State is unable to utilise this power because of limited distribution lines.
“We are looking for ring feeding of power stations in Goa. However, people are not cooperating to give land to install lines”, he added.
He along with power secretary Punit Kumar Goel and other power department officials met Union Minister R K Singh at Colvale Power grid.
“The State Power Ministry has requested for more power during peak hours and we have allotted additional power during the peak Hours. Goa will prepare a scheme to be sent to Central Government. This scheme is expensive and we will be not able to take it up all together. However we will do it in phases”, the Union Minister said.
