Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant ruled out the possibility of setting up a nuclear power plant in Goa, asserting that the state government led by the BJP will not pursue such a project.
Speaking to reporters, Sawant clarified that Union Minister for Power Manohar Lal Khattar’s recent call for states to explore various sources of power generation—including nuclear—was general in nature and not directed at Goa in particular.
“Goa is a small state and the BJP government will never bring a nuclear power plant here,” Sawant said. “The Union Minister only suggested that states look at alternatives such as hydro, solar, wind, and nuclear for future energy needs.”
The Chief Minister stressed that Goa is already making progress in the renewable energy sector. “We have begun solar power generation and have floated a tender for wind energy,” he said.
Goa, which depends heavily on power imported from other states, is working towards reducing this reliance by boosting local generation through green energy projects. The state has also partnered with academic and industrial institutions to develop a green hydrogen energy plant, in line with India’s broader goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
Sawant’s remarks come amid a nationwide push by the Centre to expand India’s nuclear power capacity from 8 GW to 20 GW by 2032. While 18 potential sites have been identified across the country for future nuclear plants, Goa is not on that list, the CM confirmed.
Goa’s continued emphasis on sustainable and non-polluting energy sources reflects its environmental sensitivity and aligns with public sentiment, he added
