In a major shift to be fully self-sufficient on solar power, the Mormugao Port Authority will set up a major solar power plant in the port.
The MPA is also hopeful that the much-awaited arm of the port connectivity flyover project will be completed by April.
Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) Deputy Chairman GP Rai told The Goan that the new solar power plant could enable the port to cater to the needs of all ships, especially cruise ships .
“The MPA is on the way to become an entire solar power-based port. It is not only MPA, but all ports are taking the initiative to look towards solar energy. The MPA initially took the step in a very small way and installed solar panels on the rooftop of our main administrative building.”
“But we have now decided to go in a very big way. We have a lot of buildings that are in a very dilapidated condition, and we plan to demolish all these buildings and establish a solar power plant.”
“We have already planned a solar plant of around 3 Mega Watts along with Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) and we may go up to 5 Mega Watts. We will then become almost 100 percent self-sufficient,” said Rai.
Rai said the central government had a big initiative to get all ports to have facility of supplying shore power.
“With the new plans of solar power plant, we may be able to cater to the needs of all ships, especially cruise ships. The Government of India is providing funds to ports through the Sagarmala initiative to provide shore power to all types of ships arriving at the port,” said Rai.
He admitted that the issue of shore power has some technical issues from the receiving end because ships must also have facility to take the shore power from the port.
“We will take it up with the union shipping ministry to have discussions with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) so that facility is made available on ships to receive shore power from the port,” said Rai.
PORT CONNECTIVITY FLYOVER
Rai said the much-awaited arm of the port connectivity flyover project has been delayed but was hopeful that the project would be completed by April.
“Ideally the project should have been completed by November but with continuous persuasion from our side, they promised us a deadline of January, which is now gone to April. This deadline has now been announced by the Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari during his recent visit to Goa and this is a very important project for the port,” said Rai.
“Almost all port traffic goes via Gate 9 through Vasco City, and it is a huge problem for us to divert this traffic via Sada. On completion of this project, everything will become smooth, and all vehicles will directly move in and out of the port through this flyover without disturbing Vasco and Sada. It will be beneficial to both these areas as well.”
“We have been waiting for the completion of this project since the late 1990s and we are very hopeful that the project will be completed by April. There is pressure being exerted from all sides like the State government and it is also being monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office as well,” said Rai.