Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday decided to lift restrictions on power supply to industries that were imposed to cope with a sharp rise in power demand, and decided to instead buy additional power from the open market.
“I am happy that the power minister met the chief minister and the CM was kind enough to immediately agree (to buy power from the open market) because industrialisation is required. The existing industries have to survive well, without incurring additional cost that will make them unviable,” Goa industries minister Mauvin Godinho said.
Earlier the Goa Chapter of the Confederation of Industries Association as well as the Goa State Industries Association expressed their disappointment over the forced shutdown the industry was forced to endure and instead offered to pay a higher price for power if only to ensure that it is delivered without interruption.
“I am happy that the industries have come forward and said we will pay the difference. They know that power is the cheapest in Goa when you compare it to other states. So even if they pay marginally little more, out of the direct power purchased from the open market, still it will be less (than other states),” Godinho said.
