MARGAO
Promising a sea change in the renewable energy sector in Goa in the next one year, Power Minister Ramkrishna Sudin Dhavalikar on Saturday said the government will select one place in every village under the concept of solar village to generate power.
The Power Minister further said the Goa government has spent over Rs 2500 crore to tone up the power infrastructure in the state, the first time ever in a financial year.
Responding to the request of Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas to consider making Benaulim village a solar village at the launching of the Rs 11.04 crore power infrastructure works in the coastal village on Saturday, Dhavalikar said “We will come up with a host of solar projects in the next one year. You will see changes in the renewable energy sector. The Benaulim MLA has requested to make Benaulim a solar village. But, I would like to announce that my home village along with other villages will be considered under the concept of solar village in the next one year”.
Saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will set a target to generate 1600 megawatts of power through solar energy by 2030, Dhavalikar said, “Presently 75 per cent of the power generated in the country is through coal. People are fighting against coal since it is the most polluting thing all over India. The PM has announced generation of 1600 megawatts of power through renewable energy by 2030. In future, many more progressive things will come not only in the power sector, but roads as well. What we want from the people is cooperation for the implementation of projects”, he said.
Saying the Rs 11.04 crore power infrastructure project will go a long way in improving the power supply to the coastal village, the Power Minister said that power infrastructure did not keep pace with the changing times since Liberation.
“The overhead power cables we see today must have been put in the year 1963-64. These overhead wires have not been changed since then. Whenever the conductors snapped, the portion was either joined or replaced,” Dhavalikar said, adding that the present government headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has now taken up the work of replacing the ageing conductors across the state.
Showering praises on Benaulim AAP MLA Venzy Viegas for pursuing the power infrastructure project from day one after his election, Dhavlikar urged the people to cooperate with the MLA and the department staff to execute the work. “I am requesting you to support the MLA to execute the power works. There is no election now and I am not telling you to vote for Venzy, but cooperate to complete the works”, he said.
Extending Ganesh Chathurti greetings to the people, Dhavlikar said the people of Goa, irrespective of religion celebrate Ganesh Chathurti and Christmas with pomp and religious fervour. “Let us work together hand in hand to build a new Goa for the betterment of the people”, he said.
