PANAJI
The Goa government’s electricity department has gone ahead with notifying the alignment for a double-circuit line from Mollem to Collem which will eventually link the controversial Tamnar project to the intra-State grid.
The notification identifies eighteen “tentative” survey numbers in Mollem and 17 “tentative” survey numbers in Collem covering the alignment through which the 110 KV double-circuit transmission line has been planned from Mollem to Collem village.
“Due to difficulties experienced by field staff of the Electricity Department in obtaining detailed survey description, only the names of villagers and tentative survey number and sub-division number through which the 110 KV Double Circuit Line is likely to pass have been indicated,” states the notification issued by Executive Engineer of the Electricity Department’s Division III at Curti-Ponda.
The notification also asserts that all powers conferred on the Electricity Department by section 154 of the Electricity Act, 2003, which the telegraphic authorities possess under Part III of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, will be invoked.
The notice also states that the map showing the alignment is available for inspection at various government offices including the two district collectors, Sub-division Office at Dharbandora, the mamlatdars of Dharbandora, Sanguem and Curti and Electricity department offices at Curti-Ponda, Sanvordem, Margao and also the department’s headquarters at Panaji.
The notice also invites the public to file objections if any at the office of the Executive Engineer of the Electricity Department’s Division III at Curti-Ponda.
Tamnar is a private project promoted by Sterlite Power of the Vedanta group and is one of the three linear projects that ran into controversy when the National Wildlife Board approved the diversion of reserve forests for these projects during the pandemic related lockdown last year.
It proposes laying a 400 KV transmission line to wheel power from a Madhya Pradesh power plant. The Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee, however, has in its latest report has recommended that the proposed alignment be redrawn in the corridor of an existing 220 KV line instead of clearing pristine and untouched forest cover. The fate of the project, meanwhile, is currently pending before the apex court.
