Challenging cable work launched deep inside sanctuary
Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar launches the work to lay the 11KV underground electricity cable in Keri-Cotigao.
Photo Credits: The Goan
CANACONA
Keri, a remote residential hilly hamlet with around 15 dwelling structures within the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, is finally set to receive electricity in the near future.
Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar launched the work to lay the 11KV underground electricity cable at the foot of the Keri plateau in Khotigao village in the presence of Kotigao Sarpanch Vrunda Velip, village elder Anand, and officials from the forest and electricity departments.
The 3.5 kms LT line will be laid underground up to the transformer to be set up in the residential ward situated at the top of the plateau at an estimated cost of over Rs 6 crore. This will be the first and most challenging project to extend electricity supply to Keri compared to anywhere else in the taluka (Canacona), stated Canacona Assistant Engineer Govind Bhat at the inaugural function.
“Extending electricity supply and that too with underground cabling to the hilly terrains of non-accessible Keri plateau, that too in the wildlife sanctuary, assumes significance as it requires more and additional efforts, including taking care of wildlife issues and overcoming the physical hurdles like streams and culverts along the way. We are keen to achieve the target within a month, but the period may extend if the monsoon hits before completion.”
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar stated that Khotigao has four major works, three of which are either completed or on the way to completion.
“We have completed the road at Avali, the mobile tower in Khotigao village, and today, the launch of works of laying underground cabling at Keri. The fourth work of constructing a road to Nadkem will be taken up soon after the monsoons,” Tawadkar said.
Several hurdles arising out of permissions from the Forest Department to lay underground cabling works without disturbing the flora and fauna of the forests will be completed at the geographically difficult terrain of Keri, which is without any motorable road.
Tawadkar also assured that the Keri–Nadkem bridge will be constructed in due course of time.
Also present at the ceremony held at the foot of the Keri plateau were Khotigao Dy Sarpanch Poonam Gaonkar, Poinguinim Sarpanch Savita Tawadkar, and most panchas of Khotigao panchayat.
