PORVORIM
An unmanned ultra-modern power substation at Saligao Plateau was announced earlier this year and with little progress so far, Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar and residents of Saligao constituency have been left wondering about the future of the project.
In January, Power Minister Nilesh Cabral had made an announcement in Saligao that a new unmanned ultramodern power substation would be set up on Saligao plateau and that tenders for the project would be floated in February.
Instead of electricity poles, towers were to be erected at a distance of every 80-100 mtrs as part of this project and Cabral had sought public support for the erection of these towers.
Speaking to The Goan, Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar said there has been no sign of the project to date.
“Former power minister Pandurang Madkaikar had sanctioned a new power substation on Saligao Plateau in order to resolve the power problems being faced by residents of Saligao constituency.
“The government was to set up a 220/30KV Extra High Voltage substation on 13,000 sq mtrs on Comunidade land at a cost of Rs 135 crore. The tenders were opened and it was decided to release the work order to the reputed company, Siemens India.”
“However, when Cabral became power minister, he scrapped the project and announced at a government function in Saligao that an unmanned power substation with new technology would be set up in Saligao.”
“Residents of Saligao constituency have had to face severe problems due to load shedding during summer, apart from frequent disruptions and breakdowns in power supply during other seasons,” said Salgaonkar.
The MLA said financial nod from the State government would now be required for the new unmanned power substation project.
“Looking at the current financial position of the government, it is possible that this new power project announced by Cabral will not see the light of day,” feared Salgaonkar.
