CANACONA
Stating that Canacona taluka’s power requirement is only 25 MW, Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said Canacona taluka can become self-sufficient in electricity by using the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar and PM Kusum schemes.
“Pumps will be provided to 700 farmers under the PM Kusum scheme,” said Dhavalikar, while speaking at an awareness programme on PR Surya and PM Kusum at the Seva Pakhwada of the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) held in association with the Department of New & Renewable Energy at Ravindra Bhavan, Canacona, on Tuesday.
“Till date, 170 farmers have been given free pumps worth Rs 5 lakh under the Prime Minister’s Kusum Yojana, and from now onwards 700 more pumps will be given to farmers across the State under the same scheme,” stated the Power Minister.
Speaking further, Dhavalikar said, “Farmers can generate solar energy by installing solar panels on their land, after which the power department will buy this electricity at Rs 3.71. Nevertheless, there is a controversy about coal pollution in Vasco and other places. Coal is necessary for the generation of thermal power. If coal is not desired, use solar energy instead.”
On this occasion, Dhavalikar and Art and Culture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar distributed approval letters to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar and Pradhan Mantri Kusum Yojanas.
Electricity Department Superintendent Engineer Rajiv Sawant, Canacona Deputy Collector Prataprao Naik Gaonkar, Gauresh Pilnarkar, Dr Anita Tilve of Sewa Sankalp, President of Sewa Sankalp Babu Komarpant and other officials were present.
Dhavalikar also inaugurated a solar power project at the girls’ hostel in Loliem, which was provided with solar rooftop panels under the PM Surya Ghar scheme.
