PANAJI: Goyant Kollso Naka (GKN) has demanded that budgetary provision made for the high tension power transmission line and power sub-station in Goa be used to provide solar rooftop installations to citizens in the state to make Goa self-sufficient in its power requirement. The organisation has written to principal secretary (forests) seeking cancellation of the permission granted to fell 18,000 trees in Mollem for the 400kv power transmission line project.
“Goa must achieve its target of 358MW of solar power by 2022 through decentralised, roof top installations. Due to this solar power target, there is absolutely no justification for the expensive, destructive and unsustainable transmission lines project, which must therefore be scrapped,” GKN’s Abhijit Prabhudesai said.
He said solar and other renewable power sources will also contribute to reduction of global warming and help Goa achieve self-sufficiency for its power need.
“The budgetary allocation for the transmission lines must be used for providing free solar installations to every villager in Goa,” Prabhudesai said.
He said GKN has written to Goa government’s principal secretary (forests) and the deputy inspector general of forests (central) in Bengaluru seeking withdrawal of permissions to fell 18,000 trees in Mollem for the power transmission line and sub-station project.
“The population of Goa is shocked and enraged by the grant of the Stage-II Forest Clearance for the construction of the 400 kV/DC transmission lines from Xeldem to Mapusa involving the diversion of 69.41Ha of forest lands and cutting of over 18,000 trees, or a part thereof, for a project that is not only completely unnecessary, but is also completely against public interest and government policies,” Prabhudesai said in the letter.