Centre approves Rs 710 crore for State’s power infra projects – EQ Mag Pro
Power Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar on Wednesday claimed that the Centre has approved funds to the tune of Rs 710 crore for various infrastructure upgradation projects in the power sector including Rs 467 crore for the smart metering project.
Another Rs 243.44 crore have been cleared for various other power supply related infrastructure projects, he said, adding that the Goa electricity department had sought Rs 16,000 crore from the Centre.
The Union Power Minister has also assured that after the sitting of Niti Ayog in November-December, funds for several more projects will be approved, Dhavalikar claimed.
Dhavalikar also said that demand for grants from the Centre for underground cabling of areas of importance from the tourism point of view, forests among others will also be put up for approval to Delhi by November.
He said, underground cabling across the State is estimated to cost Rs 15,000 crore.
Earlier this month, Dhavalikar had also said that his ministry will seek Rs 2000 crore in low-cost loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under an existing Indo-Japan bilateral cooperation agreement.
Under JICA, Goa has already implemented projects in the water supply and sanitation sector and Dhavalikar is familiar with it as he was PWD minister then.
Meanwhile, the power department’s revenue collections have spiked by nearly 40 per-cent, Dhavalikar claimed, adding that his department’s financial position is “too good”.
He also said, the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) has proposed setting up solar energy units atop edifices of all educational institutions in the State.
Initially, the GEDA will go in to set up ‘pilot projects’ in some institutions both in North and South Goa districts.
GEDA is also working on doubling the capacity of the biomass briquetting plant from the current 20 to 40 tonnes per day.
Source: PTI
