the goan I network
MARGAO
Expressing his helplessness to provide uninterrupted power supply, Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar on Saturday sought two years time to set up the necessary infrastructure to tone up the State’s power requirement, even as he said the Centre has agreed to sanction funds to the tune of Rs 1700 crore for this purpose.
Madkaikar went on to say that no attention was paid to strengthen power infrastructure over the years, adding that infrastructure suffered from neglect after the successful stint of Digmabar Kamat as the Power Minister.
“For the moment, I cannot provide 24x7 power supply to the people for want of infrastructure, which is 30 years old. Barring the tenure of former Power Minister Digambar Kamat, no attempt was made to boost power infrastructure in the state. We have prepared a long-term plan wherein the government has sought central funds to the tune of Rs 1700 crore to give a boost to the power infrastructure,” Madkaikar said, while addressing a program at Rawanfond to mark the inauguration of a 10MVA power transformer near the KRC station.
“Goa is one state which has no problem regarding availability of power. The state, however, is facing problems with power distribution infrastructure. We are lacking in the distribution system, which is around three decades old,” he added.
Madkaikar announced that Union Power Minister R K Singh was kind enough to sanction proposals worth Rs 1700 crore in the form of grants as well as soft loans.
On the occasion, he announced a power sub-station for Navelim, besides other power transformers to tide over the power situation.
