The idyllic state of Goa, known for its pristine beaches and vibrant culture, is now at the centre of a contentious debate revolving around the Tamnar project. With two Lok Sabha Members of Parliament expressing conflicting views, the future of this ambitious venture hangs in the balance, raising questions about the optimal path forward for the state’s energy infrastructure.
On one side of the divide stands the six-time North Goa MP, Shrpad Naik, who also serves as the Minister of State for Power.
Naik has unequivocally thrown his weight behind the Tamnar project, emphasizing the need to raise public awareness about its potential benefits.
Meanwhile, the Congress South Goa MP, Viriato Fernandes, has emerged as a staunch critic of the project. Notably, Fernandes’ political journey has been shaped by his steadfast opposition to various large-scale initiatives in Goa, including the Tamnar project, NH4 widening on Anmod Ghat, and the double tracking of the railway line.
The discord between the two MPs underscores the complexities inherent in reconciling competing visions for Goa’s development.
At the crux of the matter is the impending question of whether the exigencies of meeting Goa’s escalating power demands can be reconciled with the imperative of preserving the state’s pristine natural landscapes.
The Tamnar project, conceived as an Inter-State Transmission System project by the Ministry of Power in 2015, harbours the potential to serve as an additional power source for Goa, which presently relies on the Western grid to satiate its burgeoning energy requisites. The cornerstone of the project is the installation of a 400 KV transmission line stretching from Sangod in Goa to the Karnataka border, thereby supplementing Goa’s electricity supply during peak demand periods.
However, the ambitious project’s trajectory is not without its share of challenges. Spanning across the states of Goa, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh, the transmission line traverses the dense, ecologically sensitive forests of the Western Ghats in Goa and Karnataka. This geographical terrain poses a conundrum, pitting the imperatives of energy security against the imperative of environmental conservation.
The implementation of the Tamnar project falls under the purview of the Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Limited (GTTPL), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) specifically incorporated to oversee its execution. The deliberations and decisions surrounding this impactful initiative loom large over Goa, wielding the potential to shape the state’s developmental trajectory for years to come.
As the contrasting perspectives of the North and South Goa MPs reverberate through the public consciousness, the citizens of Goa find themselves standing at a crossroads, pondering the trade-offs of embracing progress while safeguarding their natural heritage.
The forthcoming developments in this saga will not only determine the fate of the Tamnar project but also reflect the prevailing societal ethos in Goa.
In evaluating the contours of this fervent debate, it becomes evident that the resolution of this conflict will necessitate a delicate balance between the imperatives of economic progress and the preservation of Goa’s ecological assets.
Ultimately, the future of the Tamnar project embodies an intricate interplay of political, ecological, and developmental considerations, underscoring the profound stakes at play in this saga that has captured the imagination of the public in Goa.
SURAJ BNANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
