Goa plans hydel power generation

With an eye on overcoming a shortfall of 60 MW of power during peak hours, Goa has mooted the idea of constructing several small dams on the state8217;s rivers to generate hydel power, Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane said today.

After a meeting with Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Rane said Goa needed 60 to 64 MW of additional power during peak hours and it needed to become self sufficient in power generation.

8216;8216;National Hydel Power Corporation has already conducted a study on the project which will generate 60 MW power. But this power will not be sufficient to meet the entire state8217;s demand,8217;8217; Rane said. Rane added that generating power through coal-based plants could result in opposition from the environmental lobby and the state could not afford alternatives like for naphtha or gas-based plants.