MARGAO: Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral on Wednesday reiterated the requirement of the tamnar line, saying the line will be the lifeline for the people of Goa, given the rate at which the power requirements are on the rise. He also said he will not allow Goa to become a coal hub.

Cabral also said that he has no links with Tamnar and that people should stop connecting him with the contractor.

“I have no links with the Tamnar contractor and people should stop connecting me with the contractor. I am ready for any debate on the issue. Otherwise the concerned social activists should take up the responsibility of providing 24 hours power supply,” Cabral said.

Reacting to the power supply issue Cabral, earlier the power minister, said that over the period of next three to four years there will be a major power supply problems in Goa.

“People of Goa are already facing power problems this April. I had proposed to dismantle the 110 KV line and replace it with a 400 KV line, so what is the problem? I had given a 50 per cent subsidy on solar but nobody is interested in taking up the scheme. Did anybody from the groups criticising the government take the benefit of solar power?” he asked.

He said being a Minister he is looking at the issue in a holistic way and for the betterment of Goa.

A day earlier, Goa Foundation (GF) Director Claude Alvares had criticised Cabral for his stance on the three linear projects. He had shown readiness to discuss the Tamnar and the highway expansion with Cabral.

Reacting to the statements by ‘Save Mollem’ and ‘Goyant Kollso Naka’, the Minister appealed to the Goans not to take much interest in their agitations.

“I want to tell the people and also the activists involved in the movement that being a Goan I also don’t want a coal hub in Goa. We will not allow anybody to dump coal in Goa,” he stated.

He assured the people that there will be no coal dump in the State, and the government will try to see how the coal coming to Goa is reduced.