NT NETWORK
SALIGAO
The state power grid on Wednesday finally started receiving the surplus power generated at the Saligao garbage treatment plant on a trial basis after the Goa Electricity Board installed a special net meter ordered online from L&T and connected it to the grid.
There was a delay of six months to sign an agreement with the management and Goa Electricity Board to divert the surplus electricity to the grid. It was only after the intervention of the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar that the GSIDC officials took the initiative and the green power was finally diverted and synchronised to the Saligao sub-station.
Plant manager Richard Dias told this daily that it was only after the news in ‘The Navhind Times’ that the electricity board on Wednesday installed the net meter at the plant. Dias said that the installation work took two hours and finally green power was diverted to the grid.
Speaking further, Dias said that the Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari had visited the plant late on Monday night and said that it is one-of-its-kind in the country which he has seen in operation. Parrikar, who had also accompanied Gadkari, had said, “We need to concentrate on 100 per cent functioning of the plant.”
The OSD for solid waste management told this daily that the work was delayed due to absence of a special meter which had to be ordered online from L&T. He said that finally the work is completed and the green power is diverted to the grid.
Director of Hindustan Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd Ganesh Kandaswamy said that the Goa Electricity Board after working for two hours has finally been successful in diverting the surplus electricity to the grid. He said that at present 300 to 320 kilowatt per hour is being produced and around 3000 to 4000 kilowatt power will be produced and sent directly to the grid. He said that during the nights the plant stops operation and hence 100 per cent green power will be sent to the grid.
Sources in the Calangute electricity department said that the green power is finally diverted to the grid. He said that the power crisis in the beach area will be over once the Saligao sub-station is upgraded.