Says tender for Saligao sub-station, other works to be issued within next 3 months after p’yat polls
MAPUSA
Cornered by the opposition over irregular power supply, Power Minister, Sudin Dhavlikar assured the House that tenders will be floated for various power-related infra projects within next three months.
Dhavlikar also said that there have been cases of power cuts and disruption of supply but the electricity department was not resorting to power shedding.
“I agree there are power-related issues especially along the coastal belt. We have analysed various works but will not take it up immediately due to the panchayat elections. Within the next three months we will issue the tender for the Saligao sub-station and other works. This government will resolve all power-related issues in the State,” Dhavlikar said.
He said, in the meantime, there were plans to bring 10 MW of power from Bicholim which will be routed to the coastal belt as a temporary measure.
The Power Minister was responding to the power-related concerns raised by Calangute MLA, Michael Lobo during the Question Hour.
Lobo said the coastal belt faced umpteen power cuts and voltage fluctuations especially during the summer.
He said the infrastructure at the Tivim sub-station was established in 1970 and needs a major refurbishment as the demand for power has increased many-fold.
“The entire coastal belt from Calangute-Candolim right up to Morjim in the North has been the worst affected. During the summer people cannot put their ACs on and power goes off at least 15 to 20 times a day. Despite paying their electricity bills on time people do not get proper supply,” Lobo rued.
He said the government had sanctioned and even tendered setting up of a sub-station at Saligao to take care of power problems along the coastal belt and Bardez but for reasons best known to those in power the tender was suddenly cancelled.
Dhavlikar disclosed that the tender was issued to Siemens Ltd for Rs 140 crore to set up the sub-station at Saligao.
“The cabinet which you (Michael Lobo) were part of had cancelled the tender as Siemens was the lone bidder and there was a complaint that a single company tender could not be issued tender,” Dhavlikar said.
He said a fresh survey was being carried out and a detailed project report (DPR) was under preparation for taking up 220KV/33KV sub-station at Saligao for catering to the increasing load in the coastal belt and to ensure reliable power supply.
“The consultant M/s RECTPTCL has started the revision process of the project for incorporating the latest technology. The detailed cost of the estimate with all specifications will be submitted by RECTPTCL shortly. The completion period will be 20 months from the date of issuing the order to the successful bidder,” Dhavlikar said.
Saligao MLA Kedar Naik and Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo also said that their constituencies faced major power fluctuations and complaints of irregular supply.
