17k trees to be felled for Tamnar Power Transmission Project: Sudin to House
Vijai demands immediate scrapping of entire project
Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar Tuesday told House that total 17,000 trees would be cut to facilitate Tamnar power transmission project from Dharbandora to Mapusa.
The House witnessed an argument between Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, and Opposition MLAs Vijai Sardesai and Carlos Almeida.
The contentious Tanmar Power project was the main point of dispute, and opponents demanded its scrapping.
Dhavalikar said that the project will benefit Goa power sector in big way. He said for the project infrastructure is being developed from Dharbandora to Cuncolim to Xeldem in Mapusa.
The opposition grilled the government over the Tamnar project and over tree felling.
The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant clarified that the government will undertake a forestation in Goa. He said that the a forestation proposed at Madhya Pradesh will be dropped.
Vijai Sardesai, highlighted an important point: Why the rush to move forward with the Tanmar project? He used the occasion to remind Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar of his pre-election promise to reject the project under consideration along with the TMC.
Sudin Dhavalikar, the minister highlighted a wide range of infrastructure projects that are now under progress or have already been finished around the State.
“A total of Rs 2,863 crore would be invested in these projects, which include the construction of new sub-stations, the installation of transformers, and the conversion of both low-tension (LT) and high-tension (HT) transmission lines from overhead to underground,” he added.
Dhavalikar has promised to thoroughly investigate the suspected bunch cabling scams. Before giving a thorough response to the concerns aired by the MLAs in the assembly, he stated his intention to speak with Goa’s Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant.
AAP MLA Cruz Silva questioned the Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar about the measures that are being taken to ensure that there is no power disruption during the work on Tanmar power project.
Sudin also said that while the Goa-Tamnar Transmission Project has received wildlife and forest clearances in Goa in 2019 and 2020, respectively, the project is yet to be placed before the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife for the clearances.
Central Empowered Committee (CEC), a fact finding body appointed by the Supreme Court, clarified in a meeting on April 13 that the Karnataka government, after considering the impact of the project on wildlife and ecology, can seek a diversion of the forest land under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
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