Cabral: SC panel’s options for power lines not practical

MARGAO: Power minister Nilesh Cabral has not taken kindly to the recommendations made by the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) that the 440 KV high tension lines be drawn over the existing 220 kv alignment instead of opening new forest cover for the new power transmission lines.
“This is practically and technically not feasible,” Cabral told TOI, adding that the constraints and “impracticality” of the suggested option were explained to the CEC during a meeting of the panel with the power secretary and top officials of the power department.
The CEC has recommended that instead of clearing virgin forest cover canopy along 10.5 km long corridor within Goa, the proposed 400 Kv line should be drawn along the existing 220 Kv corridor line after establishing 400 Kv corridor connectivity between Mapusa and Sangod and 220 Kv line between Sangod and Xeldem. “Power is supplied to entire South Goa through the 220 Kv line. We have the 440 Kv line coming from Colvale power grid. And it is in North Goa that we have major power problems, as when one line fails, the other line cannot withstand the load. Now the CEC is saying you shut down this live 220 Kv line supplying power to South Goa and then establish 400 Kv corridor connectivity between Mapusa and Sangod to draw the 400 kv line. From where will we draw the power until then?” Cabral questioned.
He, however, said that during the course of the discussion with the CEC, the power department had agreed to draw a 440 kv line along the existing another 100 Kv line (defunct) lying parallel to the live 220 Kv line, which however, Cabral said, failed to find favour with the CEC. “The alignment of the second 400 Kv line to Goa, even if it is taken along the new corridor as proposed, on its commissioning the existing 110 Kv (defunct) and 220 Kv lines drawn between Karnataka and Goa will require to be dismantled as the 100 MW power can be carried through the new 400 Kv line having 1,200 MW capacity. Taking into account the total available power supply lines and the peak power demand of Goa state (presently 670 MW) in the forseable future, there will be no justification to continue with 110 Kv and 220 Kv lines between Karnataka and Goa,” the CEC report states.