From daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Jun 14:  Goa government's plans to have a coal-based power generation plant seems to be heading for a dead-end with its coalition partner deputy chief minister Dr Wilfred d'Souza, who is also environment minister,
opposing the proposal.
 
Goa government had shown keen interest in coal-based power plant following suggestions by union power minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who had said that such plants exists elsewhere in the country. The chief minister Pratapsingh Rane too had supported the plant in the state.

In a sudden move of opposition from an unexpected quarter, Nationalist Congress party (NCP) leader and deputy chief minister D'Souza expressed his oppose to the plant stating that it would cause environmental pollution.

"Instead, the state Government should opt for a proposed solid waste power-generating plant that could generate around 130 mega watts (MW) of power," D'souza said talking to mediapersons here.
 
He said it was out of question for a tourist State like Goa to have coal-fired power generating units on account of coal pollution.

The deputy chief minister is strongly supporting Malaysia-based company's proposal to generate power from solid waste. Dr Willy stated that a Malaysian company had approached him with a proposal to treat solid waste and generate 130 mw of power.

According to the proposal, the State would buy power at the rate of 2.34 per unit form the power-generating plant of the company to be run on build, operate own and transfer (BOOT) basis for the next 30 years.

He stated that the plant to be set up is estimated to cost Rs 450 crore and the same will be invested by the company. What the State has to make available is only land and the solid waste to run the plant.
 
"We have enough of solid waste and I feel power at the rate of Rs 2.34 per unit is cheap."