May consider nuclear power plant in Goa, says Union min

Panaji: Union power minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Monday that there is a proposal to set up a nuclear power plant in Goa to meet the state’s power needs. Khattar said this after a review meeting with CM Pramod Sawant and other state ministers, and added that the suggestion is as per Centre’s police to examine the feasibility of setting up solar power generation plants across regions.

The minister also said that the Centre will support Goa’s plans for 24x7 ‘drink from tap’ water supply for the state, which will cost Rs 652 crore. He said that Rs 113 crore will be provided by the Centre under Swachh Bharat to Goa, and that the state would be helped to procure 50 electric buses.

“We have discussed a plant for Goa which can generate the state’s own power. Here, there is no scope for other sources. So, there was a discussion on setting up a nuclear plant. In the future, as the demand comes from here, we will consider it accordingly,” said Khattar, stressing that at present, it is only at the recommendation stage.

“It is a suggestion. Goa does not have its own plant at present. Thermal, hydro, and solar plants have limitations here, as the state experiences a heavy monsoon. We will try to expand solar power use in Goa too. But we will check if a bigger system for power generation can be created, and then, a nuclear plant will be considered,” he said.

The minister said that India is considering nuclear power plants to up its generation manifold by 2047.

“We have been told that in every region, the feasibility of setting up a nuclear plant needs to be examined. We will check the feasibility, and then a location will be thought of. Nuclear power generation needs to be expanded. At present, we generate 8 gigawatts of nuclear power. By 2047, we want to raise this capacity to 100 gigawatts,” he said.

Sawant said that Goa only generates 99 megawatts of power through solar energy presently. “There are different suggestions made to increase the state’s power generation. They are only suggestions at present.”

Khattar said that power supply has reached every home in Goa, which is a matter of great satisfaction. Goa is only lacking in smart metering, and this work has been tendered and will be completed at the earliest, with central support, he added.

STPs in Mormugao of 25MLD, in Sanquelim of 3MLD, and in Ponda of 8MLD will receive central assistance, he said, adding that rooftop solar plants in Goa will be increased to 22,000 connections by 2026-27.

Meanwhile, state Congress president Amit Patkar has called the proposal of setting up a nuclear power plant in peaceful and eco-sensitive Goa “absurd”. “Goa is not a laboratory for BJP’s dangerous experiments,” Patkar said.