the goan I network
MARGAO
Returning from a Power Minister’s conference in Delhi, Madkaikar said in Benaulim on Saturday that Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal has promised to strengthen power infrastructure in the State within the next three years at an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore. In fact, the Power Minister said that Goyal wants the Goa government to focus on public illumination on the lines of Dubai and other countries.
When The Goan asked whether Goa can achieve the target of providing uninterrupted power supply to the residents, Madkaikar sounded positive, saying that the target can be achieved once the incoming main power lines coming from Karnataka and Kholapur in Maharashtra are replaced in a phased manner. “Yes, the government will be able to provide 24x7 power supply to the people of Goa once the incoming supply lines are replaced and the infrastructure is strengthened to meet the requirements,” Madkaikar said.
“I think after the bridges and highway expansion, the Union government is willing to support Goa in a big way on the power infrastructure. We may end up in receiving funds to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore to tone up the infrastructure,” he said, while exuding confidence that Goa will achieve a milestone in the power sector in the not too distant future.
Saying that the Goa government would take maximum benefit of the Centre’s power plans across the State, the Power Minister said the Power department will get down to the job of preparing the estimates and forwarding them to the Centre for sanction by December 19.
Madkaikar said that given Goa’s status as the international tourist destination, the Centre is ready to finance power infrastructure along the coastal belt, saying the Centre will fund projects on top-most priority along the coastline.
