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For better quality power, need to hike tariff: Parrikar

For better quality power, need to hike tariff: Parrikar

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PORVORIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said that to improve the power situation in the state a 10-15% hike in the electricity tariff was needed.

Referring to salaries of government servants, which have seen an increase of around 77% over a period, Parrikar, while replying to the demands on electricity in absence of power minister Pandurang Madkaikar, said, “There should also be a 10-15% hike in the electricity tariff. We don’t want to do that. However, we have to increase the tariff, otherwise the power situation will remain the same, because replacement involves costs.”

To get quality service people should be ready to bear the cost, he added.

This monsoon the state witnessed several power cuts, which the CM blamed on unseasonal rain in April and May. One thousand conductors snapped and 650 poles were uprooted, he said.

He, however, assured members of the legislative assembly that, within a year, the state’s power related issues would be resolved.

“When I present the next budget your complaints about the electricity department will be fewer,” he said, adding that he has directed the electricity department to adopt standard operation procedure (SOP) and to cut trim trees by February-March instead of waiting for the last minute. Stating that he has instructed linesmen to take police along with them while trimming trees, he said anyone obstructing the linesmen would be arrested.

The electricity department is “seriously working” on improving the power equipment in the state, the CM said, adding, “Infrastructure does not happen overnight”. The department, he said, has issued various work orders to the tune of Rs 410 crore, as also kept Rs113 crore for underground cabling, Rs 755 crore to take up priority work and Rs 75 crore for automating the electric distribution network. Additionally, this year, the government has kept budgetary support of Rs 317 crore for various subsidies, including power connections for households and agricultural farms. Work worth Rs 411 crore is underway, Parrikar said.

About transformers getting overloaded, he said it happens because around 60% of the homes have too many appliances, which leads to households exceeding the load limit of their connection which, in turn, places extra pressure on transformers. “We will start penalising the people (who overload their houses),” Parrikar said.

Parrikar said the state’s electricity purchase bills have increased and added that Goa draws six megawatt power from renewable energy. He also said that the government has started the process to generating three megawatt power at Anjunem and Salaulim dams. “Our study indicates that Goa is not suited for wind power,” he said.

He said that government will come out with a policy to regularise meter readers and line helpers.

Issues related to the first phase fitting of LED lights will be solved by September and by December the second phase of LED fitting will be taken up.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
Anand Gupta Editor - EQ Int'l Media Network

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