Panaji: A solar power plant is being installed at the Selaulim water treatment facility in Xelpem on a pilot basis. The solar plant will cover available surfaces at the complex where the new 100MLD Selaulim water treatment unit was constructed. There is another 160MLD water treatment unit in the complex, and the solar plant is expected to help meet at least 25% of the plants’ power requirement, minister for drinking water, Subhash Phal Dessai, told TOI.Phal Dessai said the plant is to utilise all the available surfaces for power generation at other water treatment complexes in Goa as well.The solar power plant is part of the project for construction of the new 100MLD water treatment facility, which is being readied at a cost of Rs 370 crore.“Once this solar power plant becomes functional, we will monitor it and implement it similarly at other water treatment facilities. Our water treatment facilities run round the clock, which means a lot of electricity is required. This solar plant can reduce electricity consumption from conventional sources by at least 25%. In 15 years, it will help us recover its cost,” said Phal Dessai.The minister further said the use of green energy is also about being future-ready.Earlier, state mulled over setting up four floating solar projects over dam waters at Selaulim, Anjunem and other reservoirs. But the idea was dropped over fears of possible water pollution, water resources minister, Subhash Shirodkar, said. Subsequently, chief minister Pramod Sawant said land by the sides of canals will be considered for the purposeGovt has set a target to generate 50% of the power required for the state through renewable energy by 2030.Phal Dessai said that the drinking water department is already setting up a 3MLD plant at the Cavrem-Pirla mining pit to meet the local water requirement on a pilot basis. The project was announced earlier, and the minister said that test results are out.“We tested the water at three labs, and all showed very encouraging results. The pit was an iron ore mining pit, but it has not been contaminated by heavy metals, and the water quality is as good as treated water. If this experiment at Cavrem is successful, we will put up such plants at pits in Sanquelim, Pale and Bicholim. One pit has 1,000MLD of water available,” said Phal Dessai.
