Panaji, March 10 (TNN): Keen to improve power supply within the state and specially to industries, the state government has approached Union minister of state for power and coal Piyush Goyal for 1,200 crores under central schemes for upgradation of transmission and distribution systems in the state.
As per the electric power survey (EPS) conducted by central electricity authority, Goa would require a staggering 1,100 megawatt of electricity by 2020-21. The state's electricity load survey indicates an 8% growth in domestic and commercial consumers per year.
State minister for power Milind Naik met Goyal in New Delhi, on March 4, to seek funds under the integrated power development scheme (IPDS) and Din Dayal Upadhyaya gram jyoti yojna schemes (DDUGJY). Under these two schemes, the Centre provides approximately 75% grant while the remaining 25% is borne by the state government.
During the meeting between the two leaders discussed various issues to improve power supply in the state. "The outlay of the scheme is to the tune of 1,800 crores for IPDS Scheme and 793.77 crores for DDUGJY Scheme," Naik added.
Goyal agreed to seriously consider Goa's requirements, Naik said.
Presently, Goa receives power from central sector allocation, which is around 425MW. Goa consumes a little more than that, hitting a peak of 540MW. To make up for the difference, power is purchased from private players as well as from companies selling renewable energy, electricity department sources said.
The government wants to develop infrastructure and provide reliable power supply to attract new industries and has also decided to set up an electronic manufacturing unit (EMU) at Tuem Industrial Estate and IT Park at Merces. Both the projects need power to the extent of 80MW. The Mopa International Airport would also need 20MW as per Need Assessment Document (NAD), Naik said.
"We want to enhance the installed capacity from the existing 700MVA to 1080MVA but the existing infrastructure is not in position to cope up with this drastic change as the present infrastructure has grown old especially high tension and low tension power carrying conductors have aged due to constant exposure to saline weather," Naik said.
Further, to avoid the corrosion of conductors, the department plans to replace overhead conductors with underground cables in major cities and coastal areas of touristic importance, for which additional funding from the centre was crucial, Naik said.