Legislators slam govt over missed green energy goals

PANAJI
Several legislators, including some from the treasury benches, censured the government over its failure to meet the green energy targets.

Participating in the discussion on the demands for grants pertaining to the Department for New and Renewable Energy, the MLAs questioned the government's lethargy in installing solar panels on government offices and buildings themselves. They also questioned the wisdom of the government in discontinuing the subsidy scheme for the purchase of EVs (electric vehicles).

While criticising the department for lacking the initiative to take forward the State's green energy thrust, the legislators urged the government to hurry with its policy decisions in this sector, as it could help the State meet its future increase in demand for power while also contributing to the war on climate change by reducing its dependence on thermal power produced using fossil fuels.

Among the MLAs who joined the discussion were the Leader of the Opposition, Yuri Alemao, and other Opposition MLAs Venzy Viegas, Cruz Silva, Vijai Sardesai and Viresh Borkar. Ruling party MLAs Digambar Kamat, Nilesh Cabral, Krishna Salkar, Delilah Lobo, Premendra Shet, Sankalp Amonkar and Rajesh Phaldesai also joined in the discussion.

Sardesai said that, due to the State lagging behind the targets set for it, the deadline to achieve 150 MW of green energy has now been pushed forward to 2030. "However, at the pace the government is going, the government will not meet the target even in 2050," Sardesai said.

Viegas urged the Power Minister, Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavlikar, who also holds the New and Renewable Energy portfolio, to fix targets for government buildings which will be equipped with rooftop solar power units. He also demanded that one of the two smaller villages in his Benaulim constituency — Carmona or Seraulim — be picked to become a 100 per cent solar village, and that work towards achieving the goal be started this year itself.

Alemao criticised the government for its lack of clear policy on renewable energy production in the State. "Industries are reluctant to go in for captive renewable energy because there is no clarity on the policy," Alemao said, and demanded that Goa target meeting at least a quarter of its power demand in 2030 from clean energy sources.