PANAJI
As the State is gearing up to face another year of probable power crises wherein the industries would require uninterrupted power to continue with their manufacturing processes and other operations, let us rewind and see what had happened in the first trimester of the year 2022, that is three months before the said power crises began with the onset of the summer in April 2022 as to give an idea of the course of actions and decisions taken by the government and the electricity department.It is to be noted that exactly a year ago, in February 2022, the State cabinet had approved the cancellation of some tenders that were passed. These tenders were regarding various types of works in the electricity department which were supposed to be carried out to ease the power supply in the State.
These cancelled tenders were: tender No 05 (18-19)/CSC “ work of 50 MVA transformer and associated work for 220 KV receiving station at Ponda, 220/33/11KV GIS substation at Tuem and 220KV double circuit transmission line from power grid Colvale substation to Tuem. The cabinet also approved the cancellation of tender no 08 (18-19) CSC “ work of survey, design, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of 3x50 MVA 220/33 KVA GIS substation at Saligao along with associated interconnecting 220 KV D/C line from 400/220 KV Colvale substation to Saligao substation.
The cabinet also approved the cancellation of tender 29 (18-19) / CSC “ for doing survey, design, engineering, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of 220/33KV Verna GIS substation and 110 KV AIS interconnection at Verna along with 220 KV D/C transmission lines from Verna substation to 220/33 KV Cuncolim substation and 220 KV D/C transmission lines from Kadamba substation to Verna substation. It is hard to understand that when the power infrastructure in the State needs to be strengthened and enhanced, why approved tenders were cancelled.
Claiming that the electricity department shuts the consumption lines because they cannot carry heavy loads caused due to high power consumption during the summer months, a noted industrialist in Goa added, “Since most of the transmission lines are very old, need repairs and upgrading, the State faces this issue of power shut down during summer. The power in one area is shut and the lines in the other area are kept on. After few hours, the power supply resumes and other areas go in the dark. This power play goes on. It is not because there is less electricity available. It is because the lines are unable to bear the load due to dilapidated structure.”
The first thing to be corrected is to upgrade the transmission lines and have more transformers because only having substations would not solve problem. If there is no power supply from the transformers, the substations will not get power, to supply further. Due to the double-engine government, funds are getting released faster and projects are being completed speedily. Taking benefit of this situation, the electricity department should move the files at a faster speed and get the sanctions and funds in time to complete the upgrading of the age-old power infrastructure and also work on the commissioning new projects, feel most citizens.
